'No itinerary yet for PM to visit India on BRICS Summit occasion'
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No decision has yet been made regarding Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to India to attend the upcoming BRICS summit, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humayun Kabir.
He made the remark today, Tuesday, while briefing journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In response to a query about whether the Prime Minister is visiting India for the summit, Humayun Kabir said, "No, a date has not been scheduled yet."
When asked when the Prime Minister might travel to India, he replied, "The visit will certainly take place at an appropriate time. Based on mutual respect and national interests, and subject to the availability and schedules of both Prime Ministers, we will finalize a date."
Regarding whether the visit could happen before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, the State Minister clarified, "No, we have not set any specific date yet."
Addressing a question on whether previously stalled bilateral discussions have resumed, Humayun Kabir added, "Not setting a date does not mean discussions have stalled. Although no date is fixed, our talks are ongoing."
He added, "During the course of discussions, an event like August 5 occurred, which deeply hurt the sentiments of the Bangladeshi people. As you all know, we raised that issue very clearly. Now, dialogue has resumed."
On the overall relationship with India, he observed, "Let us see. Once a suitable time and environment are established, the Honorable Prime Minister will certainly visit India. However, we have not decided on a date yet."
Decision on Boeing Aircraft Purchase
Meanwhile, asked about a tweet by Sergio Gor regarding the procurement of Boeing aircraft, the State Minister stated that Bangladesh is maintaining a balance in its relations with both the United States and China. "We share a very good relationship with Washington, just as we do with Beijing. We are maintaining an excellent balance in our foreign relations."
He added, "Among the nations with which we hold bilateral relations, the United States is one of our primary development partners. We intend to further expand our trade and investment with them."
Highlighting the need to expand Bangladesh's aircraft fleet, the State Minister said, "We want to transform Bangladesh into an aviation hub in Asia. To become a key gateway in this region, we need to serve more routes, and for that, a larger aircraft fleet is essential."
Citing Ethiopian Airlines as an example, he noted, "They have over 150 aircraft in their fleet. In contrast, our demand over the next 10 to 15 years is around 70 to 80 or even more aircraft."
When asked whether a decision had been made to purchase Boeing or Airbus aircraft, Humayun Kabir stated, "Based on our requirements, we have taken a decision in principle to buy Boeing aircraft."
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir.
Responding to a query on whether this decision was made under external pressure, he clarified, "No, not due to any pressure. This is being done according to the needs of our aviation sector. We do not have the required aircraft fleet in Bangladesh. We must expand our fleet capacity; otherwise, we will not be able to launch new routes and will lose business."
Emphasizing the long-term necessity of procuring aircraft, the State Minister added, "To boost revenue and passenger volume as an aviation hub, we must acquire aircraft in the long run. We will continue our procurement based on our needs and purchasing capacity."
Humayun Kabir concluded, "We must meet the demands of our aviation sector, ensure passenger service, and position Bangladesh as an aviation hub connecting routes across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and beyond."
