Work with honesty, sincerity: PM Hasina to Biman officials
Hinting at purchasing two more Boeing aircraft for Bangladesh Biman, prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked the authorities of the national flag carrier to work with honesty and sincerity to ensure the quality of passenger services.
“Apart from the existing aircraft, three Dash Bombardier planes will be added to the Biman fleet. We have also got news that Boeing is interested to sell its two aircraft soon, the order of which was canceled by somebody else… we’ll take this opportunity,” she said.
The prime minister was addressing as the chief guest the induction ceremony of Biman’s fourth Dreamliner, ‘Rajhangsa’, at the VVIP Terminal of Hazrat
Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in the capital this afternoon.
Sheikh Hasina observed that the country’s foreign currency reserve is in a good position and there will be no problem for purchasing two new Boeing aircraft.
State minister for civil aviation and tourism Mahbub Ali, civil aviation and tourism secretary Mohibul Haque, Biman Board of Directors chairman retired air marshal Muhammad Enamul Bari also spoke at the ceremony.
Biman managing director and CEO Md Mokabbir Hossain delivered the welcome address of the programme, where ministers, advisers, parliament members, dignitaries and high civil and military officials were also present.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R. Miller was also present at the ceremony.
Earlier, the prime minister formally commissioned the newly-procured state-of-the-art aircraft of the national flag carrier by cutting a ribbon at the VVIP Tarmac of HSIA.
ter the inauguration, Sheikh Hasina boarded the aircraft, inspected it and talked to the pilots and the crew members.
A munajat was offered on the occasion, seeking continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation.
About the country’s current forex reserve, the prime minister said: “We calculate it because there should have such an amount deposited with which we can purchase the food for three months if the country is hit by any natural disaster.”
She went on saying: “There is no need to keep additional amount of reserve money. We can utilise the additional money in development purpose.”
The prime minister said the government will purchase two cargo planes to create more opportunities for exporting goods, including foods. “We’ll also set up a cargo village so that we could export easily,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has attained self-sufficiency in food. “There is no possibility of falling into trouble … we are stocking such amount of food that is needed to face any natural calamity,” she said.
The prime minister urged all concerned of Bangladesh Biman to work with utmost sincerity for raising the passenger services and maintenance of the aircraft.
“We’ve purchased the aircraft with our hard-earned money … so you’ll have to look after their maintenance with sincerity,” she said.
“Simultaneously, you’ll have to raise the quality of the services and earn confidence and trust of the passengers through it … then we could transport more passengers due to our geographical position. So, I hope that all involved in Biman will work with sincerity in this regard,” she said.