Photo: Jubair Bin Iqbal / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bangladesh’s civil aviation minister has called for full transparency in aircraft procurement and major aviation projects as the government moves ahead with an ambitious expansion of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
Parliamentary scrutiny
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat made the remarks at the second meeting of the parliamentary standing committee overseeing his ministry in Dhaka on Sunday.
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Millat said the committee had a central role in ensuring accountability across the ministry’s work, including aircraft purchases and infrastructure schemes. He said the government was committed to transparent procurement after what he described as two decades of insufficient accountability and poorly planned projects.
The minister also said the government would examine earlier aircraft-purchase agreements for possible irregularities. No specific wrongdoing in those agreements was established at the meeting.
Biman’s costly expansion
The demand for oversight comes as Biman undertakes one of the largest fleet renewal programmes in its history.
In September, Biman ordered 11 more Boeing aircraft — five 787-10 Dreamliners and six 737-8 jets — taking its planned Boeing purchases this year to 25 aircraft. Boeing said the order followed an earlier purchase of 14 787 and 737 MAX aircraft.
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Millat said Biman, rather than the government budget, would repay the cost of new aircraft from airline revenues in instalments, with the state acting as guarantor. That structure makes commercial discipline and public disclosure especially important: taxpayers could still face exposure if the carrier cannot meet its commitments.
The minister argued that delaying procurement could leave Biman short of aircraft as older planes are retired. He said delivery lead times can stretch for years, meaning decisions taken now will shape the airline’s capacity well into the next decade.
Airport plans also under focus
Millat also addressed plans for a proposed international airport in Bogura, saying the project would require roughly 2,000 acres of land and a runway able to accommodate wide-body aircraft.
Bangladesh is simultaneously considering an order for 10 Airbus aircraft, including wide-body and narrow-body jets, as it seeks to increase Biman’s long-haul and regional capacity. The government has said the prospective Airbus purchase is based on operational need, while officials have previously faced questions over the influence of international diplomatic and commercial interests on aircraft choices.
Why it matters
For Bangladesh’s diaspora, including workers, students and families travelling between South Asia, the Gulf, Europe and North America, a stronger national airline could improve direct connectivity and competition on key routes.
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But fleet purchases and airports are long-term public commitments. Clear contracts, credible financing plans and meaningful parliamentary scrutiny will be essential if Biman’s expansion is to deliver affordable, dependable services rather than add pressure to public finances.