‘Biman plans to operate flights in more int’l routes’

BSS, Dhaka :
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said Biman, Bangladesh Airlines Limited has a plan to operate flights in more international routes after procuring new generation aircrafts and conducting feasibility study in this regard.
Replying to a question from independent Lawmaker Swapan
Bhattachariya on Thursday, he told the House that Biman, the national flag carrier of Bangladesh, has been operating its flights to 18 international destinations so far.
Responding to separate questions from Independent lawmaker Dr Rustom Ali Farazi and treasury bench member Abdur Rahman Bodi, the minister said that Biman had suspended operations of its flights in different domestic routes due to aircraft shortage and financial loss.
“We have a plan to resume flight operation in different domestic routes including Barisal-Dhaka and Coxsbazar-Dhaka after procuring new small body aircraft and conducting feasibility study in this regard,” he added.
In this connection, the minister informed the House that a process is on to procure two turboprop aircraft aiming at resuming Biman’s flight operation in these domestic routes. Responding to another question from A K M Shahjahan Kamal (Luxmipur-3), he said the government earned Taka 485.53 crore till December 13 from the tourism sector during the 2013-14 fiscal.
The minister said the government has been implementing a number of uplift programmes to further increase income from the tourism sector.