Source : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government plans to procure fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, helicopters and other armament to strengthen the armed forces.

She told Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) personnel Wednesday that the government had drawn up plans and set the process, including budget allocation, in motion.

‘Budget allocation for the Bangladesh Air Force under the present fiscal year is the biggest amount in the history of the force,’ she said.

She witnessed the BAF’s annual exercise WINTEX-2010 at the main fighter base at Kurmitola in Dhaka Cantonment, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) reported.

‘The present government will take all possible measures to build up the country’s air force as an up-to-date force by arming it with modern technology-based war weapons,’ New Age newspaper quoted her as saying.

Sheikh Hasina said her government was firmly committed to building a modern, knowledge-based air force that excelled in training and technology in order to ensure security of the country and its people.

A development plan had been approved for constructing infrastructure at Cox’s Bazar, located in the southeastern region bordering Myanmar, for smooth operation of fighter jets and transport aircraft to ensure security of economic activities in the maritime territories and relief operation in remote areas, Hasina said.

Defence purchases in Bangladesh have been mired in political controversy.

A court Monday acquitted Hasina of corruption charges in the purchase of eight MiG-29s that were bought during her earlier tenure as the prime minister.

She told the airforce personnel that the government of her political rival, Begum Khaleda Zia (2001-06) had kept the aircraft unused for long ‘just to get her in trouble’, the newspaper said.

A frigate purchased from South Korea for the Bangladesh Navy was also kept in mothballs for five years. It was re-commissioned in 2007.

The security analyst

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday ordered stern actions to stop all corruption and irregularities in Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited.

“You have to curb all sorts of corruption and irregularities with an iron hand,” she said in her clear direction for the authorities concerned, as the national flag carrier is now poised for a fresh takeoff with a new look.

The prime minister issued the directive while inaugurating a new logo and livery of the recently-converted aviation company, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited, at the VVIP Terminal of Zia International Airport.
She also asked the Biman officials to re-start the Dhaka-New York flight as soon as possible after consulting the US counterpart.
The PM put emphasis on the resumption of all suspended Biman routes to the destinations wherein a good number of Bangladeshi expatriates live.
She lauded the move of Biman authorities for switching over to e-ticketing as this would help stop the cumulative irregularities involving ticket booking.
A new journey of the Biman started on Wednesday with new logo and livery and inclusion of new-generation Boeing 777-200ER and Boeing 737-800NG airplanes in its fleet.

The PM also cut the logo embedded cake and got on board the new-generation aircraft.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader also spoke on the occasion.

Hasina received models of 777 and 737 aircraft from Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited board of directors chairman Jamal Uddin Ahmed and managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Zakiul Islam.

The renaissance event also showcased seven new uniforms (saris) designed to be worn by the Biman employees engaged on-board service and customer touch point on the ground.

The prime minister in her inaugural speech recalled that Biman was born shortly after the independence of the country. On January 4, 1972, Biman embarked upon its journey as the national airline of Bangladesh, a country fresh from gruesome experiences of independence war, with the maiden flight on the Dhaka-Chittagong route.

Biman spread its wings outside on international route flying from Dhaka to London on March 5, 1972.

“This organisation has the rare chance of carrying the flag of the country around the world,” she said
New generation Boeing 777-200ER and Boeing 737-800NG in the fleet of Biman Bangladesh Biman Airlines Ltd will fly soon, Muhammad Zakiul Islam, Managing Director & CEO of Biman, told bdnews24.com.

Earlier in the week, he had told bdnews24.com that the airline was hoping to resume flights to Delhi, Bangkok and Mumbai by the start of March.

“Besides, we have plans to initiate flights to Tripoli, Colombo and Guangzhou,” he said on Wednesday

“The Dhaka-New York flights will also hopefully resume within March,’ said Islam. Biman had suspended these flights in July 2006.

Islam also said the long-haul routes like Dhaka-London would be operated by two Boeing 777-200 ERs, of which another is expected by March.

The regional routes will be operated by the Boeing 737-800s.

An Airbus A310 was also expected to be added to Biman’s fleet by March, he said.

Islam said all four aircraft were being leased on a temporary basis till Biman procures new planes.

Currently Biman connects to 16 international and 3 domestic destinations with its fleet of four DC-10s, two Airbus-320s, two F-28s and two rented Boeing 747s.

In 2008, Biman signed a deal with Boeing for four 777s, four 787s and two 737s at a cost of $2.5 billion.

UK-BANGLADESH FLIGHTS SET TO SOAR

Meanwhile, travellers flying between the UK and Bangladesh are set to enjoy more frequent flights and a greater choice of destinations following an agreement signed between the two countries recently.

According to the agreement, the number of flights between the two countries will more than treble from 10 to 31 a week on each side.

The new arrangements also allow airlines from either country to operate services between anywhere in Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, replacing the existing regime which only allowed flights between Heathrow, Manchester and Dhaka.

The move paves the way for direct flights to the UK from Sylhet, the north-eastern Bangladesh district where the majority of the UK’s large Bangladeshi community originate.

The new arrangements also mean Biman Bangladesh Airline will be free to start its new service from Dhaka to New York via Manchester, which is expected to be launched next month.