by Baten Biplob

Iranian private carrier Mahan Air is facing growing scrutiny in Bangladesh following plans to launch direct flights from Dhaka and Chattogram to key Gulf and South Asian destinations, raising fresh questions over regulatory oversight, compliance, and diplomatic sensitivities.

The airline recently announced plans to operate flights linking Bangladesh with Dubai, Muscat, Islamabad, and Karachi as part of its regional expansion strategy. To support the planned operations, Bangladesh-based aviation services firm Aero Versatilo Corporation has been appointed as the airline’s General Sales Agent with approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh.

Industry insiders said the proposed entry has sparked discussion within Bangladesh’s aviation community because of Mahan Air’s long-standing sanctions-related controversies and international scrutiny.

The United States previously imposed sanctions on the airline over allegations of links with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, allegations consistently denied by Iranian authorities. Several Western countries have also imposed operational restrictions on the carrier over the years.

Aviation analysts said Bangladesh may need to carefully assess compliance, security, and diplomatic implications before allowing full-scale operations.

“Commercial demand exists, particularly among Middle East-bound expatriate travellers, but regulators will likely weigh international obligations alongside market opportunities,” an aviation expert familiar with the matter said.

Officials from CAAB and the Civil Aviation Ministry have yet to publicly comment on whether additional regulatory reviews or conditions will apply before the flights begin.