DHAKA, July 15, 2023 (BSS) - Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman today said Japan will get the ground handling work at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).

"Japan has shown interest in getting the ground handling work and the government has decided to give them the job," he said.

The terms will be determined through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), he added.

The CAAB chairman revealed this information while speaking at the 'ATJFB Dialogue' organised by the Aviation and Tourism Journalist Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) held at HSIA.

ATJFB President and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Special Correspondent Tanzim Anwar conducted the program while ATJFB General Secretary Ziaul Haque Sabuj delivered the welcome speech.

Regarding the purchase of airplanes, the CAAB chairman said the aircraft will be purchased following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's instructions to increase the Biman's fleet of airplanes and cargo capacity.
 
Biman will choose whoever gives us the best offer, CAAB Chairman said, regarding which company's aircraft will be purchased, Boeing or Air-Bus.

"We have a relationship with Boeing already while the topic of Airbus has also come up" he said, adding that if Airbus makes a better offer than Boeing, "we will go there".

He also expressed hope about the positive response from the USA to start the Dhaka-New York flight at the end of this year.

"We are getting good response from the USA. The airline companies are required to apply for approval before launching a flight. However, Biman faced delays in submitting their application," he said.

He mentioned that the plan of the Bangabandhu airport has temporarily been suspended due to the current economic recession.

CAAB Members Air Commodore Sadikur Rahman Chowdhury (Planning), Md. Mahbub Alam Talukder(Admin),Group Captain Abu Saleh Mahmud Mannafee (Security) and its Chief Engineer Md. Abdul Malek were, among others, present at the event.