Bangladesh and Canada are likely to initial an Air Service Agreement formalising the liberalisation of bilateral aviation relationship.
Civil aviation and tourism minister Faruk Khan told New Age that the Air Service Agreement is likely to be initialed in Canada today by the delegations representing Bangladesh and Canada.
He also said that Bangladesh has aviation cooperation with almost 50 partners around the world and this deal with Canada will create a new avenue in aviation cooperation.
Faruk Khan said that after the delegation returns the deal will be sent to the law ministry for the vetting. Later, it will also be sent to the cabinet for its approval.
He assumed that the final deal between Bangladesh and Canada will be signed by September this year.
Earlier on August 15, Bangladesh and the United States initialed the Open Skies Air Transport Agreement.
The agreement will create opportunities for strengthening the economic partnership between the United States and Bangladesh through closer links in transport and trade.
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh officials said that a six-member delegation team went to USA to initial the deal on August 12.
Civil aviation and tourism secretary Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, CAAB chairman Mahmud Hossain, economic minister of Bangladesh embassy to Washington Md Wahed Hossain, CAAB director of flight safety and regulations SM Nazmul Anam and assistant director Prashanto Kumar Chakrabarti and Biman Bangladesh Airlines general manager Md Belayet Hossain represented Bangladesh during negotiations on the deal and Memorandum of Understanding.
On the other hand, aviation negotiation director of US Department of State Windell Albright and high officials of Department of Transport and Commerce represented the USA.
CAAB chairman Mahmud Hossain and aviation negotiation director of US Department of State Windell Albright initialed the deal and MoU in the presence of Bangladesh Ambassador to USA Akramul Kader.
Open Skies deals allow air service by the airlines of both countries between and beyond the other’s territory, allowing airline managements to determine how often to fly, the kind of aircraft to use, and the prices to charge.
Asked about the approval of Federal Aviation Authority, Faruk Khan said that FAA audit delegation will come to visit CAAB soon as FAA certified CAAB as a second category organisation due to lack of flight security in 2009.
-With New Age input
