Saudi Arabia to build aircraft maintenance facility in Bangladesh

Saudi Arabia is keen to build aircraft repairing and maintaining facility at the abandoned airbase in Lalmonirhat of Bangladesh.

The airbase was abandoned after the partition in 1947 and later Bangladesh Air Force took charge of the airstrip.

Diplomatic sources said Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) is planning to invest $5 billion in a bid to set up the aircraft repairing park there.

Officials in Dhaka and Riyadh told Prothom Alo that Bangladesh appreciates the Saudi initiative and last week sent a letter to the Saudi Arabia to arrange a dialogue over the matter.

At the beginning of this month (August), a diplomatic source in Riyadh said the matter was discussed during air chief marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat’s visit to Saudi Arabia. During his tour, sources added, Masihuzzaman held meeting with top security officials of the oil rich country.

Asked about the matter, Bangladesh’s ambassador to Saudi Golam Mosih told Prothom Alo that Saudi Arabia placed a proposal over establishing the facility at Lamonirhat airbase.

In a statement on 11 April 2019, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said air chief marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat had a courtesy meeting with Saudi’s Royal Armed Forces’ chief of the Saudi general staff, Fayyadh bin Hamed bin Raqed Al Ruwaili, and commander of the Royal Saudi Air Forces (RSAF) Turki bin Bandar bin Abdul Aziz.

He also visited King Faisal Air Academy and Alsalam Aerospace Industries, established in 1988, according to its website, ‘to make the Kingdom self-sufficient in commercial and military aircraft maintenance, overhaul and modifications through technology transfer and the development of Saudi nationals’ while Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) was launched in May 2017 to ‘act as a sustainable platform to provide world-class military products and services.’

The Saudi authorities hinted that initially they will ink an investment agreement with Bangladesh Air Force. Following the agreement, they will gradually start the commercial activities.

Last week, Bangladesh ambassador to Riyadh wrote a letter to the Saudi foreign ministry in this regard.

On the matter, Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies’ (BIPSS) president retired major general Muniruzzaman said cooperation may take place with a friendly country like Saudi Arabia.

“We welcome any foreign investment. But Bangladesh should be aware of any investment that is related to the security issue in a bid to avoid confrontation,” he told Prothom Alo.

Muniruzzaman also said it is okay if Saudi’s investment is merely for business. But, Bangladesh should remain alert if the deal includes any military involvement, he added.

*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Toriqul Islam.