Bangladesh signs deal with Boeing to buy 11 aircraft: Mahdi Amin
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Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin has said the government has signed an agreement with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing to purchase 11 new aircraft as part of efforts to expand the country’s aviation sector.
He made the disclosure at a press conference held in the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York on Wednesday evening local time.
Mahdi Amin said, ‘Today, an important agreement signing ceremony was held with Boeing. At the ceremony, Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed an agreement to purchase 11 more Boeing aircraft.’
He said senior representatives of the US government were present at the ceremony. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Under Secretary of Commerce William Kimmitt and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur were among the officials present.
Mahdi Amin said the initiative to purchase new aircraft was taken considering the need to expand Bangladesh’s aviation sector. Noting Bangladesh’s longstanding commercial relationship with Boeing, he said discussions with Airbus could also take place in the future if necessary.
Mahdi Amin said Bangladesh would purchase aircraft based on demand. He said, ‘Bangladesh’s aviation sector is expanding and there are plans to launch new routes. New aircraft are needed for this reason.’ He also said a Boeing delegation later paid a courtesy call on the prime minister.
At the press conference, Mahdi Amin outlined various activities of the prime minister’s visit to the United Nations. He said that on the second day of the visit, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended several meetings on health, agriculture, the Rohingya crisis, climate change, regional stability and bilateral relations.
He said a meeting with the Gates Foundation discussed expanding cooperation in the health and agriculture sectors, the use of technology for farmers, increasing agricultural productivity and developing Bangladesh’s capacity to produce vaccines.
Regarding the Rohingya crisis, Mahdi Amin said an important event on the Rohingya crisis was held on the sidelines of the United Nations through a joint initiative of Bangladesh and The Gambia. Representatives from various countries and international organizations attended the event.
He said international community support is needed to ensure the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas. The importance of improving the law-and-order situation in Myanmar and ensuring accountability for persecution against the Rohingyas was also emphasized.
Mahdi Amin said more than 1.2 million Rohingyas are currently staying in Bangladesh. As international assistance for them has declined, pressure on Bangladesh is increasing. More support from the international community is needed in this situation, he said.
He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a meeting with the prime minister of Croatia. The meeting discussed strengthening relations between the two countries in various areas including trade, investment and migration.
Mahdi Amin also said the prime minister held a meeting with the president of Iran.
Responding to a question from journalists about the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, Mahdi Amin said Bangladesh supports a peaceful solution and could play a role in creating opportunities for dialogue from a friendly and neutral position if necessary.
He said Bangladesh has important partners in the Middle East and discussions have highlighted the need for a peaceful solution considering the impact of the conflict on energy, trade and Bangladeshi expatriates.
Regarding climate change, he said the prime minister has presented Bangladesh’s position at the international level on ensuring climate financing for climate vulnerable countries. Plans to reduce carbon emissions through dredging rivers and canals, tree planting, increasing the use of renewable and solar energy and promoting electric vehicles were also highlighted.
Asked about the roles of China and India in the repatriation of the Rohingyas, Mahdi Amin said Bangladesh is communicating with the relevant countries and partners at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
He said China is an important development partner of Bangladesh and high-level discussions with China on resolving the Rohingya crisis are continuing. He also said Bangladesh will keep open the channels of communication and dialogue with all relevant parties including Myanmar.
Mahdi Amin said, ‘In diplomacy, all doors and all options have to be kept open. The path to dialogue can never be closed.’
Noting that two more days of the prime minister’s four-day United Nations visit remain, he said the prime minister will deliver his speech in Bangla at the United Nations General Assembly tomorrow.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir, Shama Obaed, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibli, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon and members of the prime minister’s press wing were present at the press conference.
