Key takeaways:

Airbus offer: 10 A350 + 4 A320neo aircraft

Boeing offer: 10 787 Dreamliners + 4 737 MAX jets

Germany is Bangladesh's top business partner

GSP negotiations mentioned as potential leverage

Diplomatic tension over commercial aircraft deal

Bangladesh sovereignty vs European economic pressure

Bangladesh will not bow to external pressure when choosing between Boeing and Airbus aircraft, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said today, dismissing suggestions that the decision could affect ties with Europe.

"I do not believe our overall relations will be affected by a commercial deal," Touhid Hossain told journalists at the foreign ministry this afternoon. He was responding to comments by German Ambassador Rüdiger Lotz, who earlier indicated that rejecting Airbus might influence EU-Bangladesh relations and GSP discussions.

Adviser acknowledged that ambassadors naturally promote their countries' commercial interests. "Any ambassador will naturally try to promote his country's products that is normal and it is part of his responsibility. He has fulfilled his responsibility," he said.

However, he firmly stated that Bangladesh would base procurement decisions solely on expert evaluation and national requirements. "What matters for us is what our experts determine based on Bangladesh's requirements and fleet size. We will not go outside expert opinion, nor will we make decisions based on what others say," Touhid Hossain said.

Earlier at DCAB Talk, German Ambassador Lotz said Bangladesh's withdrawal from its commitment to purchase Airbus would ‘absolutely’ impact trade relations with Europe. "Reliability in business relations is essential," he remarked, noting Germany is Bangladesh's most important business partner.

Rivalry between US-based Boeing and Europe's Airbus continues as both compete for Biman Bangladesh Airlines' aircraft order. Biman's Techno-Financial Committee is reviewing two proposals: Airbus offering 10 A350 wide-body and four A320neo narrow-body aircraft, and Boeing proposing 10 787 Dreamliners and four 737 MAX jets.