Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Biman Dreamliner returns to Dhaka due to cockpit windshield crack
A crack in the cockpit windshield of a Biman Bangladesh Airlines Dreamliner prompted the pilot to return the Boeing 787-9 plane to Dhaka two hours after take-off.
Gas supply to improve in Dhaka, adjacent areas in a day or two : Nasrul
The 285 passengers and 12 crew members, destined for Dammam in Saudi Arabia, remained safe during the incident on Saturday afternoon, said Tahera Khondker, a spokesperson for the national carrier.
Captain Tania Reza, the flight's captain, detected the crack and communicated with the control tower before deciding to return to Shahjalal International Airport.
Mild cold wave persists across Dhaka, Rangpur, and Rajshahi divisions
3-day tourism fair to start on Feb 1
The 12th Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair is all set to kick off on 1st February at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.
Fish meat, and eggs to be sold at affordable prices ahead of Ramadan:Minister
Biman Bangladesh Airlines will be the title sponsor of this year's fair, reads a media release of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (Toab), the organiser of the three-day fair.
Ferry sank as bulkhead hit it, says state minister for Shipping
Tourism companies, tour operators, travel agents, hotels, resorts, amusement parks and transport companies from home and abroad will participate in the fair supported by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and Bangladesh Tourism Board.
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The fair will accommodate 150 stalls of around 100 different organisations.
Biman to start operating Dhaka-Rome flights from March
Biman Bangladesh Airlines will start operating Dhaka-Rome flights from March next year, Biman MD and CEO Shafiul Azim said today (December 21, 2023).
He was speaking at the ATJFB dialogue, organised by the Aviation and Tourism Journalist Forum of Bangladesh, at the Biman Training Centre in Dhaka.
All Biman employees to get 5% allowance as ‘special incentive’
Mohammad Salahuddin, director (marketing) of Biman, said, "We discontinued the Dhaka-Rome flight after 2009. Now it will be resumed, for which GSA has been appointed, and ground-handling has been finalised.”
“We can operate direct flights to Rome, Italy or via another country. We are studying it. It will take 9-10 hours for the direct flight to reach Rome,” he said.
Biman commences flights on Dhaka-Chennai route
For possible transition points, he mentioned Kuwait or Dubai. However, nothing is finalised, he said.
ATJFB President and Special Correspondent of BSS, Md Tanzim Anwar, moderated the dialogue. ATJFB General Secretary and Bangla Vision Special Correspondent Ziaul Haque Sabuj delivered the welcome speech.
London-bound Biman makes emergency landing in Sofia to save ailing passenger
Senior officials of Biman and ATJFB members were present in the dialogue.
With promise to transform country’s aviation sector, Dhaka Airport’s Terminal 3 set for soft opening today
The much-anticipated third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, which promises to transform the face of the country’s aviation sector, is set to have its soft opening on Saturday morning (October 7).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will officially inaugurate the new terminal for the country’s leading international airport, that stands out as one of the most talked-about and exciting among all the ‘megaprojects’ undertaken by the AL-led government.
Rehearsals are currently underway on-site in preparation for the inauguration program. Once the prime minister has completed the formalities, a special flight operated by state-owned Biman Bangladesh will depart from Dhaka using the newly constructed third terminal. Ground handling services for this special flight will be provided by the airline.
Target set for Dhaka Airport Third Terminal's full functionality by December 2024: CAAB Chairman
Preparations for the inauguration are being carried out collaboratively by the Biman Bangladesh Airlines Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB). A Biman flight, BG371 to Kathmandu, has already departed twice from the terminal to rehearse for the opening, although immigration and other paperwork was not done there.
Talking to UNB ahead of the inauguration, Air Vice Marshal M. Mafidur Rahman, chairman of CAAB, said that approximately 90 percent of the construction of Terminal 3 has been completed under the Shahjalal International Airport Expansion Project (Phase I).
Apart from the main terminal, the cargo complex comprising both export and import facilities, is nearly complete, said the CAAB chairman: “The cargo complex is in its final stages and is expected to be operational by March or April.”
HSIA Terminal 3: Final preparations on course for Oct 7 inauguration
Security arrangements for the airport have been meticulously planned for Saturday’s soft opening.
“Our target is to make the terminal fully functional for passengers by December 2024. The work is progressing ahead of schedule, and we are confident that the terminal will be operational before the planned deadline,” he said.
Meanwhile Md. Shafiul Azim, managing director of Biman Bangladesh, told UNB the national flag carrier is fully prepared for the soft opening of Terminal 3.
“New equipment has been procured for the ground handling of Terminal-3, and international standard uniforms have been provided to the staff on duty. The airline conducted exercises, including ground handling, in preparation for the inauguration,” he said.
Terminal 3 is expected to provide a sea-change in terms of passenger experience and choice in a state-of-the-art setting. It starts with the 37 aircraft parking spaces, which has already seen some airlines that never flew to Bangladesh before, make queries to include Dhaka as a destination in the near future.
Soft opening of Dhaka airport’s 3rd terminal on Oct 7: CAAB Chief
The 26 boarding bridges (of which 12 are to be launched in October), along with 115 check-in counters, including 15 self-service, promise a breezier experience for anyone departing Dhaka, or flying in. .
The baggage handling system will be on the ground floor, departure lounge and boarding bridge on the second floor, and extensive duty-free shops and exit lounges.
Terminal 3 will have the capacity to serve 1.20 crore (12 million) passengers annually on its own, once fully operational. At present the airport is able to serve 80 lakh (8 million) passengers in a year. A multi-storey car parking facility, customs hall, VIP and VVIP passenger areas, and a transit passenger lounge are also part of the terminal's offerings.
The three-storey terminal, designed by Rohani Baharin of internationally renowned CPG Corporation (Private) Limited Singapore, will have a floor space of 230,000 square metres. Baharin’s CV includes the acclaimed third terminal of Singapore’s Changi Airport, as well as Ahmedabad’s new international airport.
The second phase of the project will involve constructing a corridor and the multi-level car parking building with 1,350 parking spaces.
In terms of passenger convenience, the new terminal will introduce automated passport control or e-gates, reducing wait times. Passengers can choose self-immigration through the e-gates or opt for assistance at one of 56 exit immigration counters. A modern fire-fighting system and advanced security screening process will enhance safety measures.
Read more: Groundhandling contract for Terminal 3 will go to Japan: CAAB chairman
The terminal will also include movie lounges, food courts, airline lounges, and world class duty-free shops. Facilities like Wi-Fi, mobile charging, prayer areas, and a Meeters and Greeters Plaza are thrown in for good measure.
Additionally, special arrangements have been made for mothers, including breastfeeding booths, diaper-changing areas, and a family bathroom. Children will have a dedicated play area.
The project, originally with an estimated cost of Tk 13,610.47 crore, got the nod of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in October, 2017. However, the cost rose substantially later on as the entire vision changed and it was decided to go for a world class facility with the potential to transform the aviation sector in the long term. The final cost approved for the project stands at Tk 21,400 crore.
JICA, the Japanese government’s international development agency, has been helming the project as the main financier, with a consortium of three leading international firms - Mitsubishi, Samsung C & T (the construction arm of Samsung) and Fujita JV - contracted to implement it. It marked the first and till now only project in Bangladesh for Samsung C & T, the firm behind such international landmarks as the Burj Khalifa, Taipei 101, and the Petronas Towers, among others.
Read more: Govt will decide on ground handling at Dhaka airport’s third terminal and Biman is ready: CEO
Biman’s Dhaka-Narita direct flights will boost Bangladesh-Japan trade, relations: BCCIJ president
The launch of Biman's Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) direct flight will enhance trade and relations between the two countries, Badal Chaklader, president of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (BCCIJ), has said.
He said this while speaking at a reception programme organised by BCCIJ in Japan's Tokyo on Sunday (September 03, 2023) night.
He also thanked the Bangladesh government and Biman Bangladesh Airlines for launching the direct flight.
Read: After Narita (Tokyo), Biman eyeing flights to New York, Chennai, Los Angeles, Rome
"We expect that the direct flights would not be discontinued like in the past. We want more Japanese investment in Bangladesh," the BCCIJ president said.
“For boosting trade with Japan, initiatives should be taken to operate daily flights in phases. The quality of services offered by the airline should also be enhanced so that domestic and foreign passengers show more interest,” the BCCIJ president added.
Business leaders said that Japanese investors were often not interested in going to Bangladesh due to lack of direct flights. It also took a long time for Bangladeshis to travel to and from Japan.
Relations and trade between the two countries will reach a new height due to the direct Biman flights, they hoped.
They also urged Biman authorities to transport dead bodies of Bangladeshi expatriates to the country free of cost.
Business leaders also demanded harassment-free services at Dhaka airport.
Read: Dhaka-Narita Tokyo direct flights launched
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Md Mahbub Ali, said, “We have 50 years of relationship with Japan. This relationship will grow even more due to the direct flights to Japan. Biman resumed flights to Tokyo, Japan after 17 years and it will facilitate passengers as well as cargo transportation.”
“Besides, more Japanese businessmen will now come to Bangladesh and invest here as our country has great potential,” he added.
President Shahabuddin off to Jakarta to attend 43rd ASEAN Summit
President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Monday (September 04, 2023) left for Jakarta, Indonesia to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit and 18th East Asia Summit to be held on September 5-7.
A regular flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the President along with his spouse Prof Rebecca Sultana and other entourage members, departed from Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) International Airport (HSIA) for Jakarta at 8:30 am.
Among others, Chairperson of Bangladesh National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Saima Wazed and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen will accompany the President during the visit.
Read: Southeast Asian leaders are besieged by thorny issues as they hold an ASEAN summit without Biden
Shahabuddin has been invited by the President of the Republic of Indonesia and ASEAN Chair for 2023 Joko Widodo, Press secretary Joynal Abedin said.
With the theme of "Asean Matters: Epicentrum of Growth", the ASEAN Summit will be held with a hectic agenda for three days.
The Bangladesh president, on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, will also attend the 'East Asia Summit' slated for September 7.
Alongside, the president will deliver the concluding speech on "Strengthening Regional Architecture to Support the Epicentrum of Growth from the Perspective of IORA" as the "Guest of Chair" there.
He will also have separate bilateral meetings with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo and state leaders of Thailand, Malaysia and Timor-Leste.
On September 6, the president will attend a 'Gala Dinner' to be hosted by the Indonesian president at Hutan Kota Gelora Bung Karno.
Read: ASEAN’s collective market holds significant promise for Bangladesh’s economic growth: Momen
Joko Widodo will chair 12 meetings during the 43rd ASEAN Summit. The ASEAN is an intergovernmental organization of 11 Southeast Asian countries - Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor Leste or East Timor. The ASEAN Summit is a biannual meeting held by its members.
The Indonesian president will also chair the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS), which consists of 18 members, including the 10 ASEAN countries, the United States, the Russian Federation, New Zealand, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and India, according to the ASEAN secretariat.
The leaders of the Pacific Island Forum, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank (World Bank) are also reportedly planning to attend the ASEAN Summit.
From Jakarta President Shahabuddin along with his spouse will will go to Singapore for a health check-up.
He is expected to return home from Singapore on September 16, according to the revised schedule.
Read: US Deputy Assistant Secretary Mira Resnick in Dhaka
After Narita (Tokyo), Biman eyeing flights to New York, Chennai, Los Angeles, Rome
Biman Bangladesh Airlines is working to expand its international routes to enhance air connectivity for Bangladeshi passengers, Managing Director and CEO of the national flag carrier, Shafiul Azim, has said.
“We have taken initiatives to operate flights on some important routes across the globe including to New York, Chennai, Bengaluru, Los Angeles, Rome, Male, and Guangzhou.”
The Biman CEO shared the information during an exclusive interview with UNB
“Gradually we will be able to start flights on these routes. We are evaluating and working on how to start flights on each of these routes within the shortest possible time,” he added.
Biman currently operates regular flights to 19 destinations around the world. “We have a fleet of 21 aircraft including Dreamliners. Ten new aircraft are being purchased from Airbus,” he added.
New aircraft from Airbus will facilitate the expansion of routes and will open up new directions in coordination with other countries, the Biman CEO hoped.
Read: Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Gulf Air forge strategic partnership for enhanced travel connectivity
With the addition of the new aircraft, the number of flights on popular routes can also be increased, which would in turn create a more competitive market and help in reducing ticket prices.
The Biman CEO said, “We are working on expanding our network not only in Asia but also in western countries, especially in Europe.”
Besides, Biman has already done everything to launch direct flights from Dhaka to New York, he said.
He further said some formal work is going on with Civil Aviation, Federal Aviation Authority and their Department of Transport.
If everything goes well, all activities regarding flight operations on the new routes, including New York, are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.
He said that Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Gulf Air have recently started a partnership – set to revolutionise travel between Bangladesh and the Gulf region.
As a result, passengers can travel from Dhaka to Bahrain and Bahrain to Dhaka with onward connection to Chattogram and Sylhet via both airlines (Biman and Gulf Air).
Read: Biman Bangladesh Airlines launches online travel date change service
In addition, it will benefit both airlines through enhanced operational efficiency and shared expertise in the aviation industry, he added.
“We are starting flights to Narita (Tokyo), Japan from September 1. Chennai is also being considered as a destination. Apart from this, we are going to resume flights to Guangzhou in China by the middle of September. Besides, we are trying to establish communication and code sharing with other countries through Narita in Japan,” the Biman CEO said.
Regarding the launch of flights to Japan, he said that Bangladesh has very good bilateral relations with Japan, and they have investments here.
“We are launching a direct Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) flight from September 1, 2023 and it is a major achievement for us,” the Biman Bangladesh Airlines CEO said, adding, “Bangladeshi students are going to study in Japan and Japanese businessmen are coming here. Besides, many people travel to Japan from neighbouring countries. We have a good air network with the West compared to the East. Through Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) direct flights, a new horizon will open,” CEO Azim added.
Besides, Biman will take initiative for improvement of the Bangladesh-Japan tourism sector.
Read more: 2 flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Friday cancelled
At the same time, “we are moving forward with marketing strategies so that passengers from neighbouring countries can travel to and from Japan via Dhaka,” the Biman Bangladesh Airlines CEO said.
Govt will decide on ground handling at Dhaka airport’s third terminal and Biman is ready: CEO
There has been no official decision yet on the ground handling work at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director and CEO Shafiul Azim has said.
“The prime minister gave a clear directive during her visit to the airport that the ground handling should be improved, it should be world-class. We have been working to ensure that since then," he said.
“Since then, we have been procuring new equipment. We have already bought new equipment worth Tk 1,000 crore, and a Tk 600-700 crore budget to buy new equipment is in the pipeline. We have recruited manpower as well,” said the national flag carrier CEO.
“There are limitations in this too, but we are working day and night,” he said.
Also read: 12 boarding bridges will be operational when Dhaka Airport’s 3rd Terminal partially opens this Oct: CAAB
A project with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is on, he added.
PM takes regular commercial flight on the way home from Geneva, exchanges pleasantries with passengers
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday (June 17, 2023) surprised passengers of a regular commercial flight of the state-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
On her way back home from Geneva, she roamed around the fight and exchanged pleasantries with the passengers.
Also Read: PM returns home from Switzerland
Passengers on the fully packed commercial flight of Biman were pleasantly surprised when she went to their seats and asked about their wellbeing.
“Many of them were surprised and astonished having their Prime Minister just beside their seats on the flight,” PM’s speechwriter M Nazrul Islam told UNB.
Sheikh Hasina, elder daughter of the Father of the Nation, also obliged their requests for photographs.
Also Read: Next general election to be held in time: PM Hasina tells Geneva reception
She spoke to children with great affection and took several of them on her lap.
Some of the passengers expressed their opinions to the Prime Minister on various issues, including development of the country in the last 14 and a half years.
Also Read: Bangladesh’s economy has a dignified position now: PM
PM returns home from Switzerland
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has returned home from Geneva, wrapping up her three-day official visit to Switzerland.
A regular flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the prime minister and her entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport early Saturday (June 17 at 1:55 am).
Earlier, the flight took off from Geneva International Airport at 11:50am local time (3:50pm Bangladesh time) on Friday.
The Prime Minister exchanged pleasentaries with the passengers in the flight and inquired about their well-beings.
Read: PM leaves Geneva for home ending 3-day visit
The PM went to Geneva on June 13 to attend the "World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All" held on June 14 and 15 in the Swiss city.
She addressed the plenary session of 'World of Work Summit 2023' at Palais de Nations on Wednesday.
The ILO's summit is a high-level forum for global voices to address the need for increased, coordinated and coherent action in support of social justice.
The summit brought together over a dozen heads of state and government, high-level representatives from the United Nations, other international organizations, and employers’ and workers’ organizations.
Read: Next general election to be held in time: PM Hasina tells Geneva reception
Hasina also had two separate meetings with President of South Africa Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa and President of Malta Dr George Vella.
Besides, she held meetings separately with UNHCR chief Flippo Grandi, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset and Director General of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Gilbert F. Houngbo there on the day.
After the meeting with Swiss President Berset, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Knowledge and Skills enhancement between Bangladesh and Switzerland was signed.
In the evening, the PM attended a dinner with high level dignitaries hosted by the ILO Director General at its headquarters.
Read: WTO chief meets PM Hasina, wants Dhaka to reduce subsidies on fisheries
On June 15, she joined “A talk at the WEF”, followed by a meeting with WEF founder Prof Klaus Schwab at WEF Office.
She also addressed an event on “New Economy and Society in Smart Bangladesh” organised by the World Economic Forum (WEF) there.
Besides, Qatar Minister of Labour Dr Ali Bin Samik Al Marri and WTO Director General Dr Okonjo-Iweala separately met her at her place of residence.
Hasina also attended a civic reception in the evening.
Read more: PM takes regular commercial flight on the way home from Geneva, exchanges pleasantries with passengers