Govt to clear 42-year hurdles in aviation
The government will amend aviation-related rules that have remained a hurdle for industry stakeholders for the past 42 years, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said on Saturday, pledging reforms to make Bangladesh’s aviation sector more competitive and position the country as a regional aviation hub.
“We will change the rules that have been obstacles for stakeholders in the aviation sector for 42 years,” the minister said while addressing a policy conclave titled “World-Class Aviation in Bangladesh’s Economic Progress”, organised by Bonik Barta at The Prestige, United Convention Centre in Kurmitola.
He said the government was working to transform Bangladesh into a regional aviation hub under the theme “Bangladesh First”, with a broader goal of turning the country into a trillion-dollar economy by 2034.
“The aviation sector is extremely important in this journey,” he said.
Millat said civil aviation laws would be amended to make them more supportive of industry stakeholders, particularly in areas involving aircraft maintenance and investment.
He said aircraft with major technical problems currently have to be sent to countries such as India or Singapore for repairs, while operators must comply with international Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements.
The government therefore plans to simplify the regulatory framework while maintaining international standards.
The minister also called for greater stakeholder participation in formulating regulations aimed at making investment in airlines easier.
He said the government would take steps to address complications surrounding the maintenance and repair of critical aircraft components.
Millat said the government inherited a “fragile and disorganised” aviation sector, with passengers facing various forms of harassment.
He said airport services had improved considerably, citing reductions in baggage-handling delays.
According to the minister, body cameras have been introduced for airport employees, while authorities have instructed that cargo operations begin simultaneously with passenger disembarkation so that baggage can be moved to the conveyor belt more quickly.
He said the government aims to deliver baggage to the conveyor belt within 15 to 20 minutes, while the current waiting time has been reduced to less than 40 minutes.
Addressing criticism over gaps in airport infrastructure and aviation capacity, Millat acknowledged that some of the concerns were valid.
“Here there is no this, there is no that, there is no runway, why are you buying aircraft, it is a waste of money – there is some truth in these statements,” he said.
“But we have to sit down and fix those things. We have to think positively. Everything is possible.”
He said the existing airport infrastructure could currently handle around 12 million passengers, while the planned full operation of the third terminal could raise capacity to 24 million or more passengers.
He said the expanded facilities would also create opportunities for more international flights.
The minister said the government was in the final stages of launching another international airport in Cox’s Bazar as part of efforts to boost the tourism industry.
He said the government was considering public-private partnerships, joint ventures and greater private-sector involvement in areas that the government itself could not operate efficiently.
Millat said discussions on budget aircraft would be held with the prime minister in November.
Referring to his recent visit to AirAsia, the minister said he had seen how the airline could prepare an aircraft for its next flight within 25 minutes and offer relatively low-cost fares.
He said Bangladesh would seek to apply similar practices where feasible.
“We have taken many initiatives, but implementing them will take time,” he said, urging stakeholders to look at countries that had built large aviation fleets from relatively small beginnings.
He said excessive suspicion and resistance had often hindered aviation development in Bangladesh.
Millat also praised US-Bangla Airlines for expanding its fleet, saying the airline had acquired 21 Boeing aircraft and might purchase more in the future.
He said the government also wanted to strengthen the national flag carrier and that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman wanted the tourism and aviation sectors to reach a higher level.
The minister said some initiatives cancelled by the previous government were being revived following the prime minister’s intervention.
He claimed that the cancellation of those initiatives could have exposed Bangladesh to losses of around $2.1 billion, adding that decisions involving a Japanese consortium had also been reconsidered.
The minister said the government was reviewing past decisions while trying to address longstanding weaknesses in airport infrastructure, aircraft maintenance, airline investment and passenger services.
Former Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Mahmud Hossain presented the keynote paper at the conclave.
Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir attended the event as a special guest. Policymakers, aviation experts, diplomats, entrepreneurs and representatives of local and international organisations also participated.
The event was moderated by Bonik Barta Editor and Publisher Dewan Hanif Mahmud.
