High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Biman Bangladesh Airlines was established in January 1972 as the Bangladeshi flag carrier. Operations started on 4 February 1972, initially on a domestic basis and using DC-3 equipment, with services radiating from Dhaka to Chittagong, Jessore and Sylhet. International operations started on 4 March the same year, covering the London–Dhaka route on a charter basis under a sub-contract agreement with British Caledonian. From 1 January 1973 the same route, serving Gatwick Airport, started being operated by Donaldson International Airways on Biman`s behalf. With a stopover in Bahrain, services to London in Biman`s own right started on 19 June 1973, initially with a leased Boeing 707.