State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam today said Bangladesh would procure both Boeing and Airbus aircraft for Biman Bangladesh Airlines as the government moves to develop a sustainable mixed fleet while safeguarding national interests.

“Our country needs both Boeing and Airbus. We will purchase both,” she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this afternoon. 

Responding to a question on whether Bangladesh’s planned Boeing purchase from the United States contradicted its expressed interest in acquiring Airbus aircraft from France, or whether the Boeing procurement was being made under external pressure, the state minister dismissed such suggestions.

She said the government is committed to strengthening the country’s civil aviation sector while pursuing prudent economic management.

“The Prime Minister inherited a fragile economy (from the previous governments). To put the economy on a stronger footing, we need to exercise austerity on the one hand, while also purchasing what the country requires. We need both Boeing and Airbus. We will buy both,” she said.

On investment and trade, Shama said Bangladesh does not give preferential treatment to any particular country.

“Absolutely not,” she said when asked whether any country was receiving greater preference.

“The interests of Bangladesh are always given top priority when it comes to investment,” she added.

Her remarks came a day after Bangladesh formally expressed its interest in procuring Airbus aircraft to develop a sustainable mixed fleet for the national flag carrier while protecting the country’s strategic interests.

The issue featured prominently during a courtesy meeting between Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, MP, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, MP, and ambassadors and senior diplomats representing France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and the European Union at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by French Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke, Spanish Ambassador Gabriel Sistiaga, German Chargé d’Affaires Anja Tersten and Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh Baiba Zerin.

During the meeting, the minister and the state minister conveyed the government’s intention to include Airbus aircraft in Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ long-term fleet expansion programme, saying Bangladesh aims to build a sustainable mixed fleet while fully safeguarding its national interests.

The European diplomats welcomed Bangladesh’s interest and reaffirmed their readiness to extend all necessary cooperation regarding the proposed Airbus acquisition as well as broader collaboration in the aviation sector.

The two sides also reiterated their commitment to strengthening the longstanding friendship and expanding the multifaceted partnership between Bangladesh, the European Union and its member states.

They further discussed ways to deepen cooperation in Bangladesh’s civil aviation sector, with particular emphasis on the expansion and modernisation of Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ fleet.