There is a plan to construct a new international airport named  ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib International Airport,’ in the vicinity of Dhaka ensuring the latest standards to make Bangladesh as an air connectivity hub between the East and the West, said State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali on Monday. He said this in Parliament, replying to a starred question from treasury bench lawmaker Shahiduzzaman Sarker (Naogaon-2). Read: Ensure proper use of water to conserve it: PM The state minister said now eight airports remain in operation under Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority in the country. On the other hand, three STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) airports – Thakurgaon, Shamshernagar and Cumilla—and three domestic airports – Ishwardi, Lalmonirhat and Bogura—remain closed. Govt plans to operate flight on Jashore-Ctg route In reply to a starred question from Awami League MP Shafiqul Islam Shimul (Natore-2), Mahbub Ali said there is a plan to increase the weekly flights frequency on all existing domestic routes as well as to operate flights on some non-traditional routes like Jashore-Chattogram-Jashore route considering the demand of passengers. The state minister said the flight operation started on Sylhet-Cox’s Bazar-Sylhet on November 12, 2020, Sylhet-Chattogram-Sylhet route on March 17, 2021 and Syedpur-Cox’s Bazar-Syedpur on October 07, 2021. Noting that the weekly flight frequency was increased on different international routes, he said a process is on to operate non-stop commercial flight between Dhaka and Toronto from June 11, 2022. Read: Expedite Shahjalal Airport's extension work, PM directs authorities In reply to another starred question from ruling party MP Momotaz Begum, the state minister said Biman Bangladesh Airlines (Biman) has a fleet of 21 aircraft including three leased ones. Now a programme is underway to assess the feasibility over the inclusion of new generation passenger aircraft and cargo planes to the fleet in order to enhance the passenger transportation capacity and improve the services, said Mahbub Ali.  

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has taken all preparations to resume direct flights between Dhaka and New York shortly, said State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Ali. “We have come a long way in this regard. Besides, Biman’s flights to Japan's Narita, Sydney, Male and Guangzhou will be launched too,” he said. The state minister said this at an event organized by Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Bangladesh High Commission in Canada on the occasion of experimental launching of Dhaka-Toronto flight at Marriott Hotel in Toronto of Canada on Sunday. Read: Biman hopes to launch regular Dhaka-Toronto commercial flights from June He said Biman Bangladesh will procure state-of-the-art aircraft like other countries. "Operating flights to Canada was our prestige issue," he said. “Many big countries of the world did not get slot to fly to Toronto. It is a matter of pride that we have got it,” he added.

Bangladesh has completed all the preparations for Dhaka-Toronto direct flights, said State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali. The state minister said this in a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Benoit Préfontaine at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday. “All kinds of cooperation from the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka in operating the Dhaka-Toronto flight is highly needed,” Mahbub Ali said. Read: Mechanical glitch: Biman flight makes emergency landing in Chattagram The Canadian High Commissioner said the Dhaka-Toronto direct flight link will enhance all kinds of trade relations between Bangladesh and France. “We hope to launch the Dhaka-Toronto flight soon.” He also said the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka is ready to extend all sorts of cooperation in this regard. Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain, Additional Secretary Jananendra Nath Sarkar and Commercial Counselor of the Canadian High Commission Angelina Dark were present at the event.

The growth of Bangladesh's aviation sector will triple in the next 15 years, noted the state minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali on Thursday. By 2017, Bangladesh's aviation market has almost doubled, and passenger and cargo transportation has grown at a rate of about 10 per cent over the past 10 years, he said while speaking at Jashore Airport on the occasion of inauguration of direct flights of US Bangla Airlines on Jashore-Chattogram and Jashore-Cox's Bazar routes. “If growth happens as expected, it will lead to huge employment opportunities as well as improve the socio-economic condition of the country,” he added. Read: Bangladesh to be turned into a global aviation hub: Hasina He also acknowledged how the state-owned and private airlines are doing well in business. “They have gained the trust of the customers through their services. Day by day they are increasing the number of their destinations on international and domestic routes,” he said. Thanking US Bangla Airlines for launching new routes to connect different districts by air, Mahbub said that the increase in air connectivity would not only create easier and more comfortable travel opportunities for the people but also help in expanding regional trade and commerce. He also hoped that the aviation sector will play an important role in reviving the tourism industry in the county.

Saudi investors are keen to invest around US$5 billion in various sectors in Bangladesh, the kingdom's ambassador to Dhaka has said.

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation is a reliable big name when it comes to serving customers. 

The Air Transport (Montreal Convention 1999) Bill 2020 was passed in Parliament on Tuesday to pave the way for an air passenger to get some US$ 160,000 (Tk 1.4 crore) as compensation in case of death.

The Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was placed in Parliament on Monday keeping a provision of maximum six months’ imprisonment or Tk 5 lakh fine or both in the case of violation of any provision under the proposed law.

Bangladesh’s tourism will be hugely benefited with the plantation of one crore trees in the Mujib Year as it will boost the country’s greeneries, said State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mohammad Mahbub Ali on Tuesday.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali said on Sunday that work is underway to develop tourism facilities in historic Mujibnagar.