Govt signs agreement with Boeing to purchase 11 aircraft: Mahdi Amin

The government has signed an agreement with Boeing to purchase 11 new aircraft as Bangladesh seeks to expand its aviation sector and introduce 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 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York on Wednesday evening local time.

The ceremony was attended by senior US government officials, including 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.

Mahdi Amin said the decision to acquire the new aircraft was taken as part of efforts to expand Bangladesh’s aviation sector. He noted that Bangladesh has maintained a long-standing commercial relationship with Boeing, while discussions with Airbus could also be held in the future depending on the country’s requirements.

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

The adviser added that a Boeing delegation later paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Briefing journalists on the prime minister’s UN visit, Mahdi Amin said Tarique Rahman, on the second day of his four-day trip, held several meetings focusing on health, agriculture, the Rohingya crisis, climate change, regional stability and bilateral relations.

He said discussions with the Gates Foundation focused on expanding cooperation in health and agriculture, leveraging technology to support farmers, boosting agricultural productivity and developing Bangladesh’s vaccine production capacity.