Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat has stressed expanding cooperation with Saudi Arabia in civil aviation alongside strengthening the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah ibn Dhafer ibn Ubayya led a delegation to meet the minister at his office at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism in the Bangladesh Secretariat at 2 pm on Thursday, October 1, 2026.

The meeting discussed aviation connectivity, transportation of Hajj pilgrims, the Air Services Agreement (ASA) between the two countries and other issues of mutual interest.

Millat said there was significant scope to expand cooperation in civil aviation based on the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.

He said a memorandum of understanding had already been signed with Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to increase the number of weekly flights between the two countries.

The issue of taxes and charges imposed on Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims received particular attention during the meeting.

Referring to discussions on the issue at a meeting on July 13, 2026, the minister sought cooperation from the Saudi authorities to resolve the matter quickly.

The two sides also discussed Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ plans for Hajj flights in 2027. Biman has applied to the relevant Saudi authorities for slots to operate three daily flights on the Dhaka-Jeddah-Dhaka route from March 28 to October 30, 2027.

The minister sought the Saudi ambassador’s cooperation in securing approval for the slots quickly so that the Hajj 2027 flight schedule can be finalised.

Progress on the Air Services Agreement between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia was also reviewed.

Millat said the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) was currently preparing the draft agreement. Once the draft is finalised, the process for signing the agreement will begin.

Regarding Saudi low-cost carrier flyadeal’s request to operate additional flights, the minister said immediate approval was not possible because of limited capacity and slot availability at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

He said, however, that an initiative could be taken to launch direct flights from Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram to Dammam.

Both sides expressed interest in deepening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in air connectivity and tourism.

The meeting also discussed an interest by a GACA delegation, led by its Vice President Ali Mohammed Rajab, to visit Dhaka to inspect CAAB’s overall preparations ahead of the Hajj season.

At the end of the meeting, Millat welcomed the Saudi ambassador and his delegation and expressed hope that cooperation between the two countries would become broader and more productive in the future.