Tokyo’s support sought to make Bangladesh regional aviation hub

Bangladesh has sought Japan’s cooperation in transforming the country into a regional aviation hub, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said on Wednesday.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

The minister said Japan was a trusted development partner of Bangladesh and expressed the government’s desire for Japanese support in its efforts to develop the country’s aviation sector.

He said the recently resumed direct Dhaka-Narita flight operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines reflected Bangladesh’s growing interest and commitment to expanding connectivity and cooperation between the two countries.

Regarding the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Millat said the government was committed to inaugurating the newly constructed terminal on time. He stressed the need to begin the Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) process as soon as possible.

He said the techno-financial evaluation of a proposal submitted by the Japanese Sub-working Group (SWG) had already been completed and negotiations would begin next week.

Work was also underway at the ministry level on a Letter of Assurance for the successful operation of the third terminal. He said that the remaining processes would be completed soon.

The minister also said Bangladesh had more than 500 heritage tourism sites and that the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Tourism and Cultural Affairs were working jointly to develop those.

The government wanted to work with Japan under a public-private partnership model to develop Buddhist tourism and was taking initiatives to create a favourable environment for Japanese investment in the tourism sector, he added.

Millat also invited Japanese investors to submit proposals for developing heritage tourism in Bangladesh.

Ambassador Saida reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to working closely with the Bangladesh government in implementing its election manifesto.