Dhaka, Beijing to double number of air flights

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Naim-Ul-Karim
Dhaka and Beijing have agreed to double the number of air flights between the two countries in a move to boost trade, commerce and investment, officials said Saturday.
They said senior officials of both Bangladesh and China reviewed their bilateral Air Service Agreement in Beijing last month and agreed to raise the number of flights to 14 each side a week.
"We've agreed to double air flights allowing each side to operate 14 more flights in a week," a senior official said of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) said.
He said both the sides have reached consensus on increasing the number of flights from previously seven to 14 more in a week from each side, as there is a rush of passengers with the growing trade between Bangladesh and China.
A large number of Chinese businessmen visit Bangladesh every month either to explore the possibility of fresh investment or promoting their existing business here.
On the other hand, a large number of Bangladeshis visit China for business and other purposes.
Officials said movement of both way tourists marked a sharp rise in the recent years due to a boost in trade relations.
An official of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism said a number of local airlines, including state-owned Bangladesh Biman and private Best Air have already sought permission to operate flights on Bangladesh-China route.
"We hope more Chinese airlines will also be interested to operate flights as air traffic increased sharply making the routes more viable," he said.
Referring to information of the Ministry of Commerce and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), he said businessmen, particularly those of southwest China's Yunan province, are showing greater interest in increasing trade relations with Bangladesh.
In terms of percentage China constitutes 15 per cent of the country's total imports after India, which registers 16 per cent.
Bangladesh Bank data showed that the total import of the country from China was amounted to over $3.0 billion in the last fiscal year. On the other hand, Bangladesh fetched over $100 from exports of its goods to that country.