Govt signs deal with Boeing to buy 11 aircraft: Mahdi Amin

The government has signed an agreement with Boeing to purchase 11 new aircraft as Bangladesh moves to expand its aviation sector and open new international routes, Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin said on Thursday.

“A significant signing ceremony was held with Boeing. Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed an agreement to purchase 11 more Boeing aircraft,” he said at a press conference in the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York on Wednesday evening (local time).

He said high-level representatives of the US government, including US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade William Kimmitt and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapur, among others, attended the signing ceremony.

The prime minister’s adviser said the initiative to purchase new aircraft was taken considering the need to expand Bangladesh’s aviation sector.

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Mentioning that Bangladesh has a long-standing commercial relationship with Boeing, he said discussions with Airbus may also take place in the future depending on the country’s requirements.

“Bangladesh will purchase aircraft based on its needs. Bangladesh’s aviation sector is expanding and there are plans to open new routes. Therefore, new aircraft are required,” he added.

Mahdi Amin also said the Boeing delegation later held a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Briefing journalists on the prime minister’s visit to the UN, Mahdi Amin said the premier on the second day of his four-day visit held a number of meetings on health, agriculture, the Rohingya crisis, climate change, regional stability and bilateral relations.

He said discussions were held with the Gates Foundation on expanding cooperation in the health and agriculture sectors, using technology for farmers, increasing agricultural productivity and developing vaccine production capacity in Bangladesh.