Procured from Russia through local agent M/S Avn Sp Ltd, the VIP helicopters, Mi-8MTV-1 (Mi-17-1V), were transported to Dhaka by plane on March 4, said a airforce headquarters report placed before the parliamentary standing committee on defence ministry on April 16.

"The choppers are expected to be commissioned by April," said the report. But officials at the BAF headquarters said the aircraft were already commissioned on April 2.

Earlier the airforce had purchased three MI-171 choppers for Tk 78.19 crore and commissioned those in January last year. Besides, the airforce has made an acquisition of 16 F-7 fighters from China at a cost of $117.9 million.

The BAF headquarters had plans to purchase more aircraft, but they had to backtrack, as the government did not approve, sources said.

Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Zaid Bakht on Tuesday said the government should avoid wasteful expenditure on defence like purchasing fighter planes, and lower taxes on fuel items to mitigate the sufferings of vulnerable groups bearing the brunt of hike in oil prices.

Before purchasing the VIP choppers, the airforce headquarters has enquired through Bangladesh foreign missions whether heads of state and government in different countries use this kind of choppers.

After the government had approved the purchase in fiscal year 2004-05, the director general of defence purchase (DGDP) invited tender for the work. Four bids were sent to the airforce headquarters on January 8, 2005.

A committee formed by the airforce headquarters had examined the offers and awarded the work to the lowest bidder. Finally, an agreement to purchase the helicopters was signed on June 25, 2005.

Defence experts said for the first time the BAF has procured two VIP choppers. But they will hardly be of benefit to the force as the VIPs, particularly the prime minister, will use them. The president can also fly in the choppers when the head of the government is not using them.

Many say Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has already begun touring different districts with an eye to campaigning for the next general elections. The newly purchased choppers will only facilitate her hectic tour schedules in the last year of the coalition government.