RASHIDUL HASAN

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has bought two Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which it had been leasing from Ireland’s Celestial Aviation Trading Ltd since 2009.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal, managing director and CEO of Biman, said the planes were purchased at a fair price.

Sources in the civil aviation ministry said Biman bought the two aircraft for Tk 168 crore with its own funds.

Boeing 737-800 is commonly used on mid-haul routes and is Boeing’s most popular aircraft.

Biman now boasts one of the youngest fleets in Asia with 21 modern planes, including four Boeing 777-300 ERs, four Boeing 787-8s, two Boeing 787-9s, six Boeing 737-800s and five De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft.

Of the 21, the national flag carrier owns 18 and the rest are on lease.

Kazi Wahidul Alam, aviation expert, said that despite the new planes, the national airline still remains in bad shape as it has failed to spread its wings to new destinations or revive suspended ones due to the absence of proper planning, marketing policy, and expert professionals.