Third Dash-8 aircraft reaches Dhaka

The third Dash-8 aircraft purchased from Canada reached Dhaka at 5.36pm on Friday, reports BSS.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina named the new aircraft as “Shwetbalaka”, said a press release of the civil aviation and tourism ministry.

The first Dash-8 aircraft out of three, purchased on a government-to-government basis from Canada, was added to the Biman’s fleet on 27 December, 2020, while second one arrived in the country on 24 February, 2021.

State minister for civil aviation and tourism Md Mahbub Ali received the Dash-8 model aircraft, manufactured by Canadian aircraft manufacturer De Havilland, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport here.

Civil aviation and tourism secretary Md Mokammel Hossain, chairman of Biman board of directors Sajjadul Hasan, chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) air vice marshal M Mafidur Rahman, and managing director & CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal were, among others, present.

Immediately after receiving the aircraft, Mahbub Ali said he is very delighted as the third Dash-8 aircraft reached home before the 100th birth day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

He said it is expected that prime minister Sheikh Hasina would formally inaugurate the two new aircraft – “Akash Tori” and “Shwetbalaka”.