Bangladesh signs air transport agreement with US

Dhaka: Bangladesh and the USA have signed an agreement for flight operations between the two countries. M Mohibul Haque, Senior Secretary, Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry of Bangladesh and Earl R Miller, US Ambassador to Bangladesh, signed the agreement on behalf of the respective parties at the Secretariat on September 30.

Following the signing of the bilateral agreement, all the airlines of Bangladesh and the US will be able to operate direct passenger and cargo flights between both the countries, said M Mohibul Haque.

Md Mahbub Ali, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism was also present on the occasion. In his speech, he said, earlier Bangladesh was denied the opportunity to operate flights to the US as airports in Bangladesh are classed as B-category. In 2013, the government initiated an air transport agreement with the US, but it never got past the draft stage. Now, Bangladesh is reaping the benefits of the sincere efforts of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He further added that the US Federal Aviation Authority would inspect and audit Bangladesh's airports, especially Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, following the signing of the agreement. During this period, Bangladesh will work for the development of necessary infrastructure and manpower reform, including airport security activities.

Earl R Miller, US Ambassador to Bangladesh claimed this agreement would take the bilateral relations between the countries forward, playing pivotal role in boosting trade and tourism opportunities between Bangladesh and the US.

Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, Chairman, CAAB, was present at the signing ceremony too. He mentioned the agreement signing to be a milestone in the relations between the two countries by air. “Based on this, Bangladeshi airlines will operate a Dhaka-New York-Dhaka flight in the future,” he added.