Biman tickets, airport lounge discounts planned for expatriate cardholders
The announcement was made
on July 21 by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam at a briefing
meeting in Dhaka on the role of airport-related agencies in implementing the
expatriate card program, read a press release.
"We have taken
initiatives to ensure all kinds of facilities for our expatriate brothers. A
policy decision has been made to provide special discounts on Biman Bangladesh
Airlines tickets and the use of the Balaka Lounge," the minister said.
She added that the
government has already introduced a shuttle bus service at Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport to improve passenger convenience and remains committed to
ensuring hassle-free air travel services for expatriate Bangladeshis.
State Minister for Civil
Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the ministry is also planning
to introduce priority check-in and priority boarding facilities for expatriate
cardholders. In addition, the government is considering offering special
discounts at hotels and motels operated by the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation.
He said these benefits
would be available through the expatriate card introduced by the current
government.
The meeting, held at the
Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism in the Bangladesh Secretariat, was
chaired by Minister Afroza Khanam. Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment
Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, the state ministers of the two ministries,
Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Overseas Employment (Asia-Pacific Region)
Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan, and senior officials from the ministries and their
affiliated agencies were also present.
