Biman to be profitable in near future : PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed the hope Tuesday that the national flag carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, will be a profit making organisation in the near future, reports UNB.

The PM voiced the hope while formally launching the induction of a 777-300ER aircraft named 'Akash Pradeep' at the VVIP ramp of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The capability of Biman Bangladesh Airlines to sustain in the global competition has been increased to a new height with the induction of fourth generation Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with most modern technology to its emaciated fleet.

Two other such aircrafts were inducted in the fleet of Biman Bangladesh Airlines in 2011 with active cooperation and endeavour of Awami League-led Grand Alliance government, and the fourth Boeing 777-300ER will be added to the Biman fleet by end of the next month.

From the same programme, the Prime Minister also said goodbye to the last passenger carrying DC-10 aircraft of the world, saying that this was also a historic moment.

The Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to increase amenities including quality food and boost the services of Biman Bangladesh Airlines to attract passengers, especially over eight million (80 lakh) expatriate Bangladeshis.

She also asked the Biman authorities for further boosting the existing e-ticketing system.

Sheikh Hasina said a tunnel with modern facilities would be constructed from Airport Railway Station to Hazrat Shahjalal ® International Airport so that passengers from across the country could easily enter into the airport from the railway station.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry and Railway Ministry will jointly implement the project, she said, adding that the services of Bangladesh Railway will also be enhanced.

The Prime Minister said that soon after the independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman established Biman Bangladesh Airlines through presidential order 126 in 1972, and Biman started its journey with a DC 3 aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force.

The existing cooperation of the government to modernize the Biman will be continued in the days to come, she said adding that the capability of Biman Bangladesh Airlines will be enhanced through procuring more aircraft and preventing wastage, inefficiency and corruption so that it could sustain in the tough global competition.

Referring to the government pledge of resuming the flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Dhaka-New York route, Sheikh Hasina said the national flag carrying organization is going to launch flight on the route soon.

She said that as part of its initial goal of reaching the peak of development, Biman Bangladesh Airlines advanced one step forward toward the path of enrichment through incorporating wide bodied DC 10-30 model aircraft in its fleet in 80s.

The Prime Minister said that with the passages of time, DC 10 become the backbone of national flag carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and basically Biman joined the club of one million passenger carrier with the introduction of DC 10. The contribution of DC 10 in carrying Hajj pilgrims was uncountable as through this aircraft Biman Bangladesh Airlines carries hajj pilgrims every year, she said.

Terming the officials and employees of Biman as skilled and experienced, Sheikh Hasina said they should be more sincere in providing services to the passengers.

She expressed the hope that Biman would turn out to be a more profit making organization and would enhance its image at home and abroad if it could maintain its professionalism with sincerity.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is working as the ambassador of the country abroad, she said, adding that two direct flights on Sylhet-London route will be introduced in a week.

The Prime Minister said that work on the construction of the proposed most modern Bangabandhu International Airport near Dhaka will begin soon after determining its site.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Air Marshal (retd) Jamaluddin Ahmed, Managing Director Kevin Steele, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena, and Director (Internal) of Boeing Savitha Gouda also spoke on the occasion.