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Prime Minister’s Adviser and his Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin has said the decision to purchase aircraft from Boeing was not imposed on Bangladesh and that the deal was signed with the country’s interests given the highest priority.
He made the remarks while briefing reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Sunday after returning to Dhaka with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman following a visit to New York for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
A supplementary agreement was signed in New York on September 23 for Biman Bangladesh Airlines to purchase 11 additional Boeing aircraft. The deal covers five 787-10 Dreamliners and six 737-8 aircraft.
“The decision was taken earlier based on bilateral interests. Although the prime minister was not present at the signing ceremony, the agreement was signed through representatives of the two countries, with Bangladesh’s interests given the highest priority,” Amin said.
He said the purchase was based on Bangladesh’s aviation needs and plans to expand international routes. Earlier, he had said Bangladesh would buy aircraft according to its requirements as the aviation sector expands.
Amin also said a memorandum of understanding on “strategic civil nuclear cooperation” between Bangladesh and the United States was signed during the visit at a separate side meeting without the prime minister’s presence.
He said the prime minister held bilateral meetings with the leaders of 11 countries during the visit, in addition to attending programmes organised by the United Nations and the US.
According to Amin, the discussions focused on Bangladesh’s sovereignty, national interests and the welfare of its people. He said the prime minister also highlighted plans covering education, healthcare, agriculture, employment, technology and artificial intelligence in his UN address.
Amin said the prime minister also called for global peace and reiterated Bangladesh’s position on the Palestinian issue.
Describing the four-day UN visit as “highly successful and fruitful”, Amin said the prime minister attended 30 programmes, including bilateral and multilateral meetings, and took part in eight major UN events, delivering speeches at seven of them.
Two high-level programmes were organised by the Bangladesh government during the visit, focusing on universal health coverage and the Rohingya crisis, he said. The prime minister also attended two other global high-level events on the environment and healthcare.
Amin said the government would continue its efforts to promote peace, human rights, inclusive development and the rule of law while working to improve people’s living standards.
Prime Minister’s Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibly, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman and Assistant Press Secretary KM Nazmul Haque were also present at the briefing.