Kamrul Hasan: Bangladesh’s national flag carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, is set to sign a landmark aircraft purchase agreement with US-based leading aircraft manufacturer Boeing tomorrow (Thursday, April 30) at 7:30 PM. The deal is being regarded as the largest fleet expansion initiative in the airline’s modern history.

The official signing ceremony will be held at Hotel InterContinental in the capital. Senior government officials, diplomats, and top representatives from the country’s civil aviation sector are expected to attend the event.
From Biman’s side, the agreement will be signed by Managing Director and CEO Kaiser Sohail Ahmed. The Boeing representative will sign on behalf of the company.
Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroz Khanam Rita MP, State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat MP, and the United States Ambassador Brent T. Christensen are also expected to be present at the ceremony.
Under the proposed agreement, Biman Bangladesh Airlines will purchase a total of 14 new aircraft. These include eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, and four Boeing 737-8 MAX jets. The total list price of these aircraft is approximately 3.7 billion US dollars, which is around 37,000 crore Bangladeshi Taka.
Stakeholders say this fleet expansion will modernize Biman’s operations, enhance long-haul capabilities, and strengthen regional connectivity. Given the country’s growing passenger demand, the move is being seen as a timely decision.
The wide-body Dreamliner aircraft will help expand services on long-haul routes to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Meanwhile, the 737 MAX aircraft will improve efficiency on regional and short-distance routes.
The timing of this agreement is particularly significant as Bangladesh is on the verge of inaugurating the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Experts believe this marks an important step toward transforming the country into a strong regional aviation hub.
The deal also comes after more than three years of competition between Boeing and Airbus over fleet expansion opportunities. Although Airbus gained some momentum in 2023 due to European diplomatic efforts, Boeing ultimately strengthened its position through long-standing relations and technical proposals.
Analysts also say this agreement is not merely a commercial decision but also part of broader international diplomacy and economic strategy. The signing comes amid ongoing discussions between Bangladesh and the United States on trade balance, tariff benefits, and export cooperation.
With increased imports of aircraft, fuel, and technology from the United States, economic ties between the two countries are expected to deepen further. As a result, the agreement is being viewed as a significant milestone in strengthening Bangladesh–US relations.