Bangladesh government is going to sign a deal with US aviation-giant Boeing too soon to procure new aircraft to replenish the fleet of state-owned carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
The foreign affairs adviser has said this, citing an acute shortage of planes that has forced the airline to suspend operations on several Middle-Eastern routes.
Incidentally, the Boeing buys fall under recent tradeoff accords reached by the two countries amid negotiations for lowering the US reciprocal tariffs on Bangladeshi exports as part of president Trump's global 'tariff war'.
Speaking Sunday in Dhaka, Md Touhid Hossain said Biman's limited fleet was constraining its international network at a time of growing demand. "Biman cannot fly on many Middle-Eastern routes due to a shortage of aircraft," he said, adding that a deal with Boeing is expected to be signed soon.
Hossain made the remarks at the closing session of a two-day election-related workshop organised for members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh, with the support of the Media Resources Development Initiative.
Responding to a separate question on trade relations with the United States, the foreign adviser of the interim government said details of ongoing negotiations over Washington's reciprocal tariffs on Bangladeshi exports cannot be made public. "Whether the tariff will be reduced or how much should not be disclosed for the sake of a successful negotiation."
Turning to domestic politics, Hossain expressed optimism about voter participation in the forthcoming 13th national parliamentary election, predicting that turnout would exceed 55 per cent.
He notes that turnout in Bangladesh's 1991 election stood at 55 per cent, which he describes as a benchmark.
"No election in Bangladesh has ever been held without incident," he also said about the ambience, adding that authorities have taken action in response to recent election-related disturbances.
"What matters most is holding a credible election. The election will be completed peacefully, and people will be able to exercise their right to vote."
Hossain told the reporters that the government had briefed foreign stakeholders on measures taken to address election-related violence and maintain stability during the polling period.
Asked about public comments by foreign diplomats stationed in Bangladesh on the election process - remarks that are less common in countries such as India - the adviser said he did not see this as a failure on part of diplomats.
"It has become a tradition in our country. People here want to hear the views of foreign diplomats."
The foreign affairs adviser also said the ministry had no information regarding a possible post-election visit to Japan by the chief adviser.
On the issue of diplomatic passports, Hossain said some advisers had already surrendered theirs in order to obtain ordinary passports more quickly for visa processing, adding that he himself had not yet done so.
The event was also addressed by UN Development Programme resident representative in Bangladesh Stefan Liller, who said the UN and its partners remained committed to supporting peaceful, inclusive and credible elections in the country through continued collaboration.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com