Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines to properly maintain all aircraft in its fleet and ensure better passenger services to the passengers.

The Prime Minister said this while inducting two new aircraft of Biman – "Akash Tori" and "Shwetbalaka" – at the VVIP Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on March 14. The Prime Minister joined the induction programme virtually from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

"Sixteen new aircraft have been procured with public money, and there are now 21 aircraft in Biman's fleet. These should be kept safe, alongside providing better services to passengers. I'm asking you to give special attention to all this," the premiere said.

The new inductions follow Biman’s efforts aimed at increasing flight frequencies and expanding services, particularly on domestic and regional routes. aviation news bd

Speaking about the Third Terminal at HSIA, the Prime Minister said the government is setting up the ultramodern terminal with a view to handling wide-bodied planes in the country and improving services to passengers.

About the newly inducted Dash-8 planes, the Prime Minister said, Bangladesh with these inductions will be able to increase its communication with the neighbouring countries while developing operations at the domestic level.

She said the government is upgrading Cox's Bazar airport to an international one because it has immense potential to play a significant role in international connectivity.

State Minister Md Mahbub Ali and Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain from Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry also spoke at the induction ceremony.

The newly-inducted aircraft are the second and third Dash 8-400s Biman purchased from Canada’s De Havilland on a government-to-government basis. aviation news bd

The second aircraft arrived in the country on February 24 while the third one on March 5. The first Dash-8 aircraft "Dhrubotara" was added to Biman's fleet on December 27, 2020.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina named all three of these aircraft.