Bangladesh is expected to sign a final multi-billion-dollar aircraft procurement agreement with Boeing during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s upcoming visit to New York, where he will attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to sources.
If negotiations are concluded as expected, the agreement could be signed in New York next week.
Details of the aircraft, including their variants, total value, financing structure and delivery schedule, have yet to be publicly disclosed.
In April, Biman Bangladesh Airlines formally signed a purchase agreement with Boeing for 14 aircraft in a deal reportedly valued at $3.7 billion.
A source at Bangladesh’s civil aviation authority told TIMES that negotiations for the additional procurement began during the interim government period.
“Hopefully, the final deal will be signed in New York,” the source said.
According to the source, Civil Aviation Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat and Boeing Global President Brendan Nelson are expected to sign the agreement next week.
US Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Sergio Gor announced on 30 August that Bangladesh had committed billions of dollars to expand its Boeing aircraft order.
In a social media post, Gor said US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had reached an agreement for Bangladesh to spend billions more on additional Boeing aircraft.
The new commitment, he said, would build on Biman’s April 2026 agreement to purchase 14 aircraft valued at $3.7 billion.
Biman currently operates 19 aircraft, including five turboprops, four Boeing 777s, four 787-8s, two 787-9s and four 737-800s.
If the agreements are concluded, the expansion would represent the largest fleet growth in Biman’s history.
Busy UNGA schedule
Tarique Rahman is scheduled to leave Dhaka for New York on Monday, 21 September, to attend the UN General Assembly. He is expected to stay in New York for four nights and return on 26 September.
He is scheduled to address the General Assembly’s general debate on 24 September. In his speech, he is expected to highlight the importance of multilateralism, outline his government’s vision, discuss its achievements and challenges, and call on the international community to uphold peace and stability across the region.
He will deliver his speech in Bangla.
The prime minister is also expected to attend two high-level meetings organised by the United Nations and two Bangladesh-hosted events focusing on the Rohingya crisis and midwifery.
Sideline meetings
Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations is coordinating a series of bilateral meetings between the prime minister and heads of delegation from different countries.
Tarique is expected to meet Kuwait Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Maldives Vice-President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and other leaders.
He is also likely to hold meetings with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, European Council President António Costa, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and others.
In addition to the expected meetings, he may have meetings with the head of delegation of Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Haiti, Indonesia, Japan, Qatar, South Korea, South Africa, the Netherlands, Thailand, Türkiye, the UAE, among others
Private sector engagement
The prime minister is expected to meet potential investors as part of efforts to encourage greater investment in Bangladesh.
His engagements may include meetings with Meta Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan, the CEO of VEON Ltd and participants at a “Breakfast Meeting with Wall Street” hosted by JPMorgan.
He is also expected to meet Kali Pradip Chaudhuri, founder and chairman of KPC Group, among others.
