The government has purchased 14 new aircraft from Boeing to expand the network of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said on Sunday.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the first Hajj flight from Sylhet Osmani International Airport, the minister said the government’s primary objective is to establish the national flag carrier as a powerful and prestigious institution on the global stage, rather than focusing solely on profitability.
He added that the process of adding more aircraft to the fleet is currently ongoing.
The ceremony, organised by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, was held inside the airport at 9:30pm. It was presided over by Biman’s Sylhet District Manager Md Shariful Alam.
Special guests at the event included Enamul Haque Chowdhury, adviser to BNP chairman; Rezaul Hasan Koyes Lodi, acting president of Sylhet City BNP; former general secretary Badruzzaman Selim; current General Secretary Emdad Hossain Chowdhury; and Hafiz Ahmed, director of Osmani International Airport.
A special prayer was led by Hafiz Maulana Asjad, the Imam and Khatib of the Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) Dargah Mosque. Station Manager Sakil Ahmed delivered the welcome address, while the programme was conducted by Sylhet District Traffic Officer Zakir Hossain Suman. Senior Biman officials and local political leaders were also in attendance.
