Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir has said there was no hidden agenda behind Bangladesh’s decision to purchase Boeing aircraft, stressing that the purchases were made openly and based on the country’s aviation needs.
“The Boeing purchase was made through a signing ceremony in an open environment. We bought the aircraft according to our requirements. There is no hidden agenda here,” he said in response to journalists’ questions at a press conference at the Foreign Ministry on Monday, Sept 28.
Rejecting the suggestion that Bangladesh decided to purchase Boeing aircraft under external pressure, Kabir said the government was assessing the requirements of Biman Bangladesh Airlines based on passenger demand and the national flag carrier’s future international operations.
“The Boeing purchase was made through a signing ceremony in an open environment. Four ministers attended at the direction of President Trump and the White House. We bought Boeing aircraft according to our requirements,” he said.
He noted that Bangladesh had historically operated Boeing’s wide-body aircraft but also needed a mixed fleet.
“Today, if we want to expand routes and become an aviation hub, we need a mixed fleet. Bangladesh needs to significantly expand its aircraft fleet. There is no hidden agenda here. This was done entirely based on our needs, and we have informed you openly,” the state minister said.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed an agreement with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s New York visit for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly to purchase 11 additional aircraft. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York.
The additional order comprises five Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners and six Boeing 737-8 aircraft, according to Boeing and Biman. It brings Biman’s planned Boeing acquisitions to 25 aircraft, following an earlier agreement signed in April for 14 aircraft worth about $3.7 billion.
The price of the newly ordered 11 aircraft has not been publicly disclosed.
Kabir said Bangladesh could purchase more Boeing aircraft if necessary, as expanding the fleet was important for improving passenger services and developing the country into a growing aviation hub.
“We need to expand our fleet to improve passenger services and become a growing aviation hub,” he said.
Asked about the possible resumption of Biman’s Dhaka-New York flight, Kabir said a technical assessment and review process was underway.
He said operations on the Dhaka-New York route had been suspended because of technical issues, and the government was reviewing the necessary matters to determine how the route could be resumed.
