Advisor Zahed explains why Bangladesh is buying 14 Boeing aircraft

Information Advisor Zahed Ur Rahman has brushed aside concerns over Bangladesh’s $3.7 billion Boeing deal, saying the bill will be spread over years and the aircraft will arrive only gradually.

Bangladesh signed the agreement with Boeing on Apr 30, with the aircraft due to arrive in phases between 2031 and 2035 for state-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

At a weekly government press conference at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Zahed said Bangladesh’s longstanding experience with Boeing was one reason the US manufacturer had been favoured.

“As we have been operating Boeing for a long time, much of the supporting staff for Boeing is already prepared and trained. That is why we have a tendency to choose Boeing somewhat more,” he said.

Asked whether the purchase could put pressure on the economy, Zahed acknowledged that the government had inherited a difficult financial situation.

“But the payments for the Boeings we are talking about will be made in stages over a long period, and getting these Boeings into our hands is also a matter of a long time,” he said.

He said the deal would have no immediate economic impact, arguing that the state must continue meeting essential needs even while managing a crisis.

“We are confident that it will not take much time to overcome this crisis, and buying the Boeing aircraft we need will not put much pressure on the economy,” Zahed said.

On Aug 31, Civil Aviation Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the decision followed a request from US President Donald Trump. He also said Bangladesh planned to lease additional aircraft.

Millat had also said Bangladesh would buy Airbus aircraft, and Zahed reiterated that the government had made no decision to favour Boeing at the expense of its European rival.

EU Ambassador Michael Miller said on Sunday that Bangladesh should take Airbus’s offer “very seriously”, describing it as “incredibly competitive” and expressing hope for swift discussions between Airbus and Biman.

Zahed said the government would consider Airbus aircraft based on its requirements.

“Airbus manufacturers from the European Union are holding discussions with the government, and our government has said that aircraft will also be purchased from Airbus according to our needs,” he said.

“There is certainly no question of leaving one out and bringing the other forward.”