Bangladesh is planning to purchase aircraft from the United States, with officials saying the decision is being driven by the country’s aviation needs rather than external pressure.
Responding to questions from journalists, Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir said the potential purchase of US-made aircraft was not the result of any pressure. Instead, he said the government was considering aircraft purchases based on the long-term requirements of the aviation sector.
According to the state minister, Bangladesh could need 70 to 80 aircraft, or even more, over the next 10 to 15 years. The government has made a policy-level decision to purchase Boeing aircraft as needed, he said.
Kabir emphasized the need to expand Bangladesh’s aircraft fleet to strengthen the country’s aviation capacity. Without increasing the fleet, it would be difficult to open new international routes and Bangladesh could lose business opportunities, he said.
He added that expanding the fleet would also be essential if Bangladesh wants to increase passenger traffic and revenue while developing the country into a regional aviation hub.
Balancing Relations with Washington and Beijing
Asked whether there was a specific timeline for purchasing the aircraft or whether discussions were still at an initial stage, Kabir said Bangladesh maintains strong relations with both Washington and Beijing.
He stressed that the government is pursuing a balanced foreign policy while maintaining positive bilateral relations with major global partners.
The state minister described the United States as one of Bangladesh’s key development partners among the countries with which Dhaka maintains bilateral relations. He said Bangladesh intends to further expand trade and investment ties with the United States.
Aircraft purchases from the US would therefore be made according to Bangladesh’s actual requirements, he added.
