An ancient tree from India is now thriving in groves where citrus trees once flourished in Florida, and could help provide the nation with renewable energy. As large parts of the Sunshine State's once-famous citrus industry have all but dried up over the past two decades because of two fatal diseases, greening and citrus canker, some farmers are turning to the pongamia tree, a climate-resilient tree with the potential to produce plant-based proteins and a sustainable biofuel. For years, pongamia has been used for shade trees, producing legumes — little brown beans — that are so bitter wild hogs won't even eat them. But unlike the orange and grapefruit trees that long occupied these rural Florida groves northwest of West Palm Beach, pongamia trees don't need much attention. Pongamia trees also don't need fertilizer or pesticides. They flourish in drought or rainy conditions. And they don't require teams of workers to pick the beans. A machine simply shakes the tiny beans from the branches when they are ready to harvest. Terviva, a San Francisco-based company founded in 2010 by Naveen Sikka, then uses its patented process to remove the biopesticides that cause the bitter taste, making the beans suitable for food production. "Florida offers a rare opportunity for both Terviva and former citrus farmers. The historical decline of the citrus industry has left farmers without a crop that can grow profitably on hundreds of thousands of acres, and there needs to be a very scalable replacement, very soon," Sikka told The Associated Press. "Pongamia is the perfect fit." Read more: Every citizen should plant trees for quality life: Environment Minister What is the pongamia tree? The pongamia is a wild tree native to India, Southeast Asia and Australia. The legume is now being used to produce several products, including Ponova culinary oil and protein, which are featured ingredient in Aloha's Kona protein bars. The company also makes protein flour. The legumes also produce oil that can be used as a biofuel, largely for aviation, which leaves a very low carbon footprint, said Ron Edwards, chairman of Terviva's board of directors and a long-time Florida citrus grower. Turning a wild tree into a domestic one hasn't been easy, Edwards said. "There are no books to read on it, either, because no one else has ever done it," he said. Bees and other pollinators feast on the pongamia's flowers, supporting local biodiversity, Edwards said. An acre of the trees can potentially provide the same amount of oil as four acres of soy beans, he added. What's left after the oil is removed from the pongamia bean is "a very high-grade protein that can be used as a substitute in baking and smoothies and all kinds of other plant-based protein products," Edwards said. "There's a lot of potential for the food industry and the oil and petroleum industry." Read more: Superfoods: Worth the Hype? Why Florida? "We know pongamia grows well in Florida, and the end markets for the oil and protein that come from the pongamia beans — biofuel, feed, and food ingredients — are enormous," Sikka said. "So farmers can now reduce their costs and more closely align to the leading edge of sustainable farming practices." At a nursery near Fort Pierce, workers skilled in pongamia grafting techniques affix a portion of the mother tree to a pongamia rootstock, which ensures the genetics and desired characteristics of the mother tree are perpetuated in all of Terviva's trees. Pongamia vs. citrus Citrus had been Florida's premier crop for years until disease caught up with it starting in the 1990s with citrus canker and later greening. Citrus canker, a bacterial disease, is not harmful to humans, but it causes lesions on the fruit, stems and leaves. Eventually, it makes the trees unproductive. Citrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing, slowly kills trees and degrades the fruit, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Greening has spread throughout Florida since 2005, devastating countless groves and reducing citrus production by 75%. The disease has spread to Louisiana, Texas and California. Hurricane Ian caused about $1.8 billion in damages to Florida's agriculture in September 2023, hitting the citrus industry at the beginning of its growing season. Disease and climate issues have also affected most of the world's top citrus-producing countries. For example, this year's harvest in Brazil — the world's largest exporter of orange juice — is forecast to be the worst in 36 years because of flooding and drought, according to a forecast by Fundecitrus, a citrus growers' organization in Sao Paulo state. But climate and disease have little effect on pongamia trees, the company's officials said. "It's just tough, a jungle-tested tree" Edwards said. "It stands up to a lot of abuse with very little caretaking." Pongamia also grows well in Hawaii, where it now thrives on land previously used for sugarcane. Read more: Superfood Moringa Powder: Know Its Health Benefits, Side Effects What are citrus farmers saying? John Olson, who owns Circle O Ranch, west of Fort Pierce, has replaced his grapefruit groves with 215 acres (87.01 hectares) of pongamia trees. "We went through all the ups and downs of citrus and eventually because of greening, abandoned citrus production," Olson said. "For the most part, the citrus industry has died in Florida." While the grapefruit grove was modest, it was common for a grove that size to be profitable in the 1980s and 1990s, Olson said. Edwards said farmers used various sprays to kill the insect that was spreading the disease. Eventually, the cost of taking care of citrus trees became too risky. That's when he decided to go a different route. "What attracted me to pongamia was the fact that one it can repurpose fallow land that was citrus and is now lying dormant," he said. "From an ecological point of view, it's very attractive because it can replace some of the oils and vegetable proteins that are now being generated by things like palm oil, which is environmentally a much more damaging crop." What about biofuel? In December 2023, Terviva signed an agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation to provide biofuel feedstock that can be converted into biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. "Our partnership with Mitsubishi is off to a great start," Sikka said, noting that the company coordinates closely with Mitsubishi on tree plantings and product development and sales. "Terviva's progress has accelerated thanks to Mitsubishi's expertise and leadership around the globe on all facets of Terviva's business." What food products does pongamia produce? The research is ongoing, but Edwards said they have made really good graham crackers in addition to the table oil and other plant-based protein products, including flour and protein bars. Pongamia offers an alternative to soybean and yellow pea protein "if you don't want your protein to come from meat," he said.  

Biman Bangladesh Airlines could be expanding its fleet with new aircraft from Airbus. Outgoing Managing Director and CEO of the national flag carrier, Shafiul Azim, made the indication during a views exchange meeting with the Aviation and Tourism Journalists’ Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) today (May 29, 2024). The meeting, held in Dhaka, saw the participation of ATJFB members led by their president, Tanzim Anwar. Addressing the forum, the outgoing Biman MD said that Airbus had proposed two offers to Biman for aircraft procurement. “Initially, Airbus offered us two cargo planes, but we decided we do not need them at the moment. Instead, we expressed our interest in expanding our passenger fleet. Subsequently, Airbus proposed four passenger aircraft, which was a better offer. This proposal has been evaluated by the committee and forwarded to the board for approval,” Azim explained. He emphasized the importance of diversifying their fleet, noting that currently, 16 out of 21 large aircraft in Biman’s fleet are from Boeing. “We are considering Airbus’s offers seriously. Diversifying our aircraft will not only mitigate risk but also appeal to passengers who appreciate newer models,” Azim said. Airbus leading in Bangladesh’s aircraft purchase consideration over Boeing? Regarding Boeing, Azim mentioned that they also received an offer from Boeing, which will be evaluated. “We have a longstanding relationship with Boeing, not just in terms of aircraft procurement but also their technical support and credit facilities. We are working well together,” he added. Azim highlighted Biman’s advantageous position due to the competitive proposals from both Airbus and Boeing. He assured that regardless of the manufacturer chosen, Biman stands to benefit as a customer. When asked about the financial status of Biman, Azim confidently stated that Biman has been “profitable for eight out of the last ten years.” The two years of losses included one year heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and another due to significant payment obligations. “Despite challenges such as dollar shortages and ongoing global conflicts, we have remained profitable,” the Biman MD said. He further defended Biman’s financial health, pointing out that regular audits have confirmed their profitability. “We continue to hire, pay salaries and bonuses, including profit bonuses. If Biman wasn’t profitable, where would this money come from? To those who doubt our success, I pray they find guidance,” he remarked. PM’s likely Visit to Paris: France hopes significant progress on purchase from Airbus, satellite Reflecting on his tenure, Azim expressed satisfaction with his management approach. “During my time, I never hesitated to reward deserving employees or to impose necessary disciplinary actions. I have used my authority to the fullest and believe that with effort, Biman can compete with the world’s leading airlines,” he stated. Addressing the frequent changes in Biman’s leadership, Azim underscored the need for a stable management system. “Our human and technical resources are competent. If systems and structures are in place, the organization won’t rely on any single individual. I have focused on establishing these systems,” he noted. He also recommended retaining experienced personnel in technical fields, regardless of age, as experience grows with time. “Biman should not function with the mindset of a government office; it is a commercial entity and should be managed commercially,” Azim advised. He expressed a slight regret, wishing that four new aircraft could have been added to Biman’s fleet during his tenure. Read more: Jahidul Islam Bhuiyan appointed as MD of Biman On May 26, the Ministry of Public Administration announced Md. Jahidul Islam Bhuiyan as the new Managing Director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. In a separate announcement, Shafiul Azim was promoted to Secretary of the Election Commission.

Japan has said it will continue to make concrete efforts, like Terminal 3 of Dhaka airport, that contribute to strengthening connectivity for the sake of "peace, stability and prosperity" of the region and the international community. “Located at the nexus of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, Bangladesh is an important partner in realizing the Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Komura Masahiro, said today (October 07, 2023).  Read: ‘Boycotting election isn’t good for anyone’: Info minister tells Japanese ambassador He was speaking at a soft opening ceremony of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s (HSIA) Terminal 3 with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the chief guest.  State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Md. Mahbub Ali, and other ministers and officials were present at the ceremony.  Japan’s Vice-Minister for International Affairs of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Uehara Atsushi; and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Iwama Kiminori, also attended the ceremony.   At the ceremony, the Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs said: “I would like to congratulate the soft-opening of HSIA Terminal 3. Japan and Bangladesh have had a very close relationship since the establishment of diplomatic relations, as symbolized by the flags of both countries.” Read: Bangladesh, Japan and NE India urged to form trilateral platform for regional value chain In April this year, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina launched a "Strategic Partnership" when she visited Japan.  "The new bilateral relations are progressing in a variety of areas, including defense equipment cooperation and joint research toward a possible EPA," he said.  In recent years, under the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt Initiative, Japan has been actively engaged in the development of major infrastructure to enhance regional connectivity, including Dhaka Metro Rail, Matarbari Deep Sea Port, and Dhaka Airport’s Terminal 3. Read: Bangladesh needs multiple choices for better bargaining in foreign financial proposals: Japanese expert In September this year, a direct flight connecting Dhaka and Tokyo, which both countries had been longing for, was also launched. "It is expected to further invigorate human traffic and contribute to further expansion of investment by Japanese companies," he said. 

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

The third terminal of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will be partially opened by October this year, and it is set to be fully operational next year, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Mafidur Rahman told UNB on Sunday (August 06, 2023). The construction of the terminal is currently in its final stage and over 85 percent work has been completed, he said. Once fully operational, the new Dhaka airport terminal, covering an area of 5,42,000 square metres,  will be capable of serving more than one crore passengers annually, the CAAB chairman added. State of the art amenities will also be offered to passengers. Read: Groundhandling contract for Terminal 3 will go to Japan: CAAB chairman “As construction is in its final stage, the magnificent architecture of the third terminal building is now visible. Currently, work on interior decoration and installation of various types of equipment is going on,” the CAAB chief informed UNB. 2 CRORE PASSENGERS WILL BE ABLE TO USE DHAKA AIRPORT EVERY YEAR The CAAB chairman said that currently 120-130 planes of over 30 airlines take off from and land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. “Every day about 20,000 passengers use the two terminals of the airport. As such, Dhaka airport serves around 80 lakh (8 million) passengers annually. It will be possible to serve an additional 1.2 crore passengers when the third terminal is opened,” he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (March 22, 2023) stressed the need for preparing a roadmap aimed at making Bangladesh an aviation hub in the region. “Reaping on the dividend of our geo-strategic advantage, we should create a roadmap as to how we can make our country an aviation hub,” she said in a video statement aired in the inaugural session of the first edition of Aviation Summit in Dhaka. The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, in collaboration with the UK and France, organised the Bangladesh Aviation Summit-2023 at a city hotel here. Read more: Working to ensure houses for all homeless people: PM Hasina Hasina said this summit is very significant for Bangladesh in the context of the South Asian nation’s aspiration to become an aviation hub in the region. She said just after achieving the membership of ICAO in 1973, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman undertook measures to turn Bangladesh into an ‘Aviation Hub’ to connect the East and the West, capitalizing the advantage of our geographical location. After the assassination of the Father of the Nation in 1975, the move came to a halt, she added. “We have undertaken several measures to support the development of an aviation hub. During the last one decade, we implemented a host of projects to upgrade our airports, airport security and ground handling,” said the prime minister. Read More: Bangladesh Monitor holds seminar to promote smart aviation Besides, a number of projects are running which include HSIA Expansion Project (Phase-I), Construction of General Aviation Hangar, Hangar Apron and Apron at North side of Fire Station at HSIA; Strengthening of Existing Runway and Taxiway at Shah Amanat International Airport, Chattogram; Development of Cox’s Bazar Airport (Phase-I), Cox’s Bazar Airport Runway Extension Project; Strengthening of Existing Runway and Taxiway at Osmani International Airport, Sylhet; and Enhancement of Capacity of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh on Public Security at HSIA, she noted. The third terminal being constructed under HSIA Expansion Project (Phase-I), will create handling capacity of additional 12 million passengers and 4 million ton cargos, she said. “The transformation of our economy helped boost the travel opportunities for our people and open up new routes and markets for our airlines. When Bangladesh will turn into an Upper Middle Income Country by 2031 and a developed country by 2041, the aviation market will be further expanded,” she added. Read More: PM Hasina: Bangladesh to become aviation gateway between the east and the west PM Hasina said as the economy of Bangladesh has grown, so has the importance of air cargo. “The air cargo market of Bangladesh is rapidly growing at 8 percent per year – three times the world average. This underlines the strong demand for a dedicated national cargo operation in our country. With all of this in mind, there are areas where aviation actors need to do more,” she said. The PM asked relevant government organisations, the airlines and other stakeholders to carry out their responsibility to create conducive environment for the development and sustaining market both for passengers and cargo. Read More: Concerted efforts needed to solve aviation sector’s problems: Speakers “The government is going to introduce e-visa system which will also facilitate and expedite the flow of passengers visiting Bangladesh for business or tourism,” she said. Noting that the promising aviation industry requires skilled manpower, she said, “Our youth must have the opportunities to be trained to become pilots, aeronautics engineers, mechanics, crew members and much more.” She hoped that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University, established by her government, would be able to cater the demand of skilled manpower in the country’s aviation and aerospace industry. Read More: Bangladesh, France keen to build partnership in aviation, space, aerospace technology She said the aviation industry has to lead by example in tackling climate change and strive to meet SDGs. De-carbonation and sustainable aviation fuel are topics which will require investments, concrete actions and the support from developed aviation nations. “The aviation partnership proposed by the UK and France, through Airbus, to support us in our journey is very crucial,” said the PM. Prime Minister’s Private Industries and Investment Advisor Salman F Rahman and State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md. Mahbub Ali were also present at the summit. Read More: Police aviation wing taking shape: Four ASPs complete basic course to be pilots.

Bangladesh and France have reasserted their will to build a "key partnership" in aviation, space and aerospace technology. The countries affirmed their commitment to extend cooperation in political relations, development cooperation, trade and investment, defence cooperation, cooperation in science and technology including ICT and agriculture, cultural cooperation; cooperation in archaeology, diplomatic training in France, an exchange programme between diplomatic training academies and consular cooperation. Bangladesh and France held the first bilateral political consultations Thursday in Dhaka. The Bangladesh delegation at the consultations was led by Kazi Russel Pervez, director general (West Europe and European Union) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The French delegation was headed by Bertrand Lortholary, director for Asian Affairs of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. Ambassador of France to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy and representatives from different ministries of the Bangladesh government also joined the consultations. Both sides also shared their views on various regional and international issues, including the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, cybercrime, counter-terrorism and violent extremism. They had an extensive exchange of views on the war in Ukraine and reaffirmed their paramount attachments to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. Both sides recognised the absolute priority of addressing climate change-related issues in their bilateral cooperation as well as in multilateral fora. They highlighted the importance of enhancing bilateral trade and exchanging business delegation. The Bangladesh side invited France to enhance investment in the country, particularly in food and agro-processing, advanced manufacturing, consumer electronics, automotive, leather, and pharmaceuticals. The two sides discussed the potential for deepening cooperation in research and development, especially in medical and environmental sciences. They also acknowledged the prospects for strengthening cooperation in aviation security and maritime domain awareness. The French side assured Bangladesh of appropriate consideration to support its bid for a GSP+ facility beyond 2029 under the EU's new GSP Regulation, in conjunction with EU institutions and member states. Both Bangladesh and France acknowledged the value of sustained and substantive cooperation in relevant regional and multilateral fora, including the UN, ASEAN Regional Forum, and IORA. The countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2022, and the launching of the bilateral political consultations will serve as a hallmark of their friendship, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the state visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to France in November 2021 at the invitation of the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, both sides highlighted their shared will to develop and deepen all aspects of their partnership through regular political consultations for strategic guidance. Both sides agreed that the second bilateral political consultations would take place in Paris. Read more: France keen to work together with Bangladesh for economic, social benefits  

The Aviation and Tourism Journalists' Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) Monday joined a beach cleanup programme in Cox's Bazar to mark World Tourism Day.ATJFB President Nadira Kiron and General Secretary Tanzim Anwar led the forum members in encouraging everyone to keep the beach neat and clean.The flow of tourists keeps increasing in the beach town with the improvement of the Covid-19 situation.The pandemic has had a massive social and economic impact, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) – the UN agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. READ: World Tourism Day: ATJFB to join beach cleanup Monday Both developed and developing economies have been hit; marginalised groups and the most vulnerable have been hit hardest of all, said the UN agency.The restart of tourism will help kickstart recovery and growth. It is essential that the benefits this will bring are enjoyed widely and fairly, it said.The UNWTO designated World Tourism Day 2021 as a day to focus on tourism for inclusive growth.This is an opportunity to look beyond tourism statistics and acknowledge that, behind every number, there is a person, said the UN agency. READ: Nadira, Tanzim President, GS of ATJFB new ECThe UNWTO invited its member states, as well as non-members, sister UN agencies, businesses and individuals to celebrate tourism's unique ability to ensure that nobody is left behind as the world begins to open up again and look to the future.World Tourism Day, celebrated each year on September 27, is the global observance day fostering awareness of tourism's social, cultural, political and economic value and the contribution that the sector can make towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.

Egyptair, the state-owned flag carrier of Egypt, has announced to launch its direct regular flights from Dhaka to Cairo from November 1. Speaking on the occasion at a function at a city hotel here on Saturday, Haytham Ghobashy, the Egyptian Ambassador to Bangladesh, said this flight operation will establish direct airline communications between the two countries. Read: EgyptAir, ALO Dhaka Aviation sign MoU to operate Dhaka -Cairo flights   He said many Bangladeshi nationals who live abroad can also travel through Egyptair to take a transit in Cairo on the way to their destinations across the world as the airline has huge connectivity with other cities.      

Coronavirus outbreak in China, which has spread to two dozen countries, will negatively affect Bangladesh’s tourism and aviation sectors, a senior government official said Wednesday.