The country earned foreign currency equivalent to Tk 9,546.47 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal (July-March) on account of expenditure by the foreign tourists, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon told Parliament Sunday, reports UNB.
Replying to a tabled question of M Abdul Latif (Awami Leagtue-Chittagong), he informed that the country earned foreign currency worth Tk 25,836.89 million in fiscal 2011-12 as expenditure by the foreign tourists visiting Bangladesh.
Replying to another tabled question from Momtaz Begum (Manikganj-2), the Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister held price-hike of fuel alongside instability as one of the main reasons for incurring losses by the national flag carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd.
He said that following continued fuel price-hike in international market, the fuel price of the Biman is being paid at a higher rate. The overall expenditure against fuel for Biman is almost 48 per cent of its overall operating expenditure.
Menon mentioned that the market share of Biman has gradually declined compared to the other competing airlines as it was not possible in the past to maintain regular flight schedules through operating flights with older aircraft.
Besides, he said the debt servicing cost of Biman increased alongside repayments for leased aircraft instead of purchasing newer aircraft through credit.
Listing some of the government initiatives to turn Biman as a profitable organization, the minister said that the Biman fleet has been modernized through the introduction of four new generation Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft while two new 737-800 and four new 787-8 aircraft would be added to the Biman fleet by 2015 and 2019-20 respectively.
Tk 9.54b earned in 9 months from tourists: Menon
FE Team | Published: June 23, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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