Desk Report:
A high-level meeting was held between the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism with the aim of developing the country’s civil aviation and tourism sectors, suppressing ticket syndicates, increasing international standard technical capacity and strengthening future cooperation.
On Monday (August 3) at 1 pm, the Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Afroza Khanam, MP, and State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, MP, paid a courtesy call on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Regional Vice President Mr. Shejdon Hee at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
In the meeting, the IATA Regional Vice President assured IATA of all-out cooperation in the development of the civil aviation sector of Bangladesh in light of the election manifesto of the current government. Besides, he expressed IATA’s interest in providing necessary technical assistance to transform Bangladesh Airlines Technical Center (BATC) under Biman Bangladesh Airlines into an international standard and modern institution.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said, “The government has taken effective steps to curb ticket syndicates. IATA’s technical assistance is important for us in this regard. The current government is following a zero tolerance policy against any kind of syndicate in the aviation sector.”
State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat said, “A separate clause related to carbon emission reduction has been added to the Civil Aviation Ordinance to protect the environment. The government is working to ensure Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Besides, necessary measures will be taken to adopt the Montreal Protocol 2014 to curb crime in the air.”
The meeting also discussed in detail various issues related to the development of the country’s tourism industry, expansion of international air connectivity, increasing the efficiency and capacity of the aviation sector, and strengthening future technical and institutional cooperation between the government and IATA.
