PM announces buying cargo to boost aviation industry

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the government will purchase cargo aircrafts for the aviation industry in order to boost and make into a profitable sector. 

She made the announcement while inaugurating the construction work of the Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Saturday.

“Biman would not be profitable without cargo hence we have a plan to buy two cargo aircrafts,” she said. 

While describing her government’s various development projects to improve the service of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the prime minister added that for the betterment of the passengers, it would not be wise to give everything to the private sector.

“In the aviation industry, we had invited the private sector in during our regime in 1996. In order to avoid price difference, the government will not put the whole sector on them,” the premier added.

Regarding increasing the market share of Biman, Sheikh Hasina said the government has purchased three more small planes from Canada, and these will be available within a very short time.

“We will try to bring more aircrafts along with these three so that we can extend our service to all airports in the country. We are taking initiatives to maintain an international standard,” she said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the ground breaking ceremony of the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Saturday, December 28, 2019 | Focus Bangla

Special attention to remittance worker

Prime minister also urged to most priority to migrant workers who contribute to our economy. 

She said the Biman authority gives priority to migrant workers as they send remittance for the country’s benefit.

“We should also be especially careful about them so that they do not get harassed while going inbound and outbound,” she repeated.   

Militancy and corruption free country 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also expressed the dream of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build Bangladesh as a country free from militancy, drugs, and corruption.

She said: “We will not spare anyone involved in corruption. We also won’t tolerate the hard work of honest people being ignored while some dishonest people will line their pockets through corruption.” 

Earlier in the day, Sheikh Hasina also inaugurated Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ two newly inducted Dreamliner 787-9 named Sonar Tori and Awchin Pakhi.

She further inaugurated a new mobile application of the national flag carrier on the sidelines of the ceremony.

Strictly obey the airport rules 

Prime minister warned air passengers including very important persons (VIPs), and other high officials to abide by airport rules in her speech. 

She continued if anyone breaks the regulations, they will face air travel restrictions in future. “We are giving utmost importance to the airport’s security issues,” she said.   

She urged the present high officials to maintain the airports rules in other countries’ airport as no one will be allowed to bypass it.  

Presided over by the State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Mahbub Ali, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mohibul Haque, Japanese Ambassador Naoki Ito, Chief Representative of Bangladesh Office of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Hitoshi Hirata, and Civil Aviation Authority and Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mofidur Rahman spoke at the event.