Aircraft Purchase from Canada: Biman’s new Dash-8 arrives in Dhaka

The third Dash-8 aircraft purchased from Canada arrived in Dhaka yesterday afternoon.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has named it "Shwet Bolaka".

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Ali received the aircraft at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:36pm. It was bought under a government-to-government agreement.

Mahbub said the prime minister is working to modernise the fleet of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Buying this new aircraft is part of that initiative.

"She is expected to inaugurate 'Akash Tori' and 'Shwet Bolaka' on March 14," he said.

The new 74-seat Dash 8-400 aircraft is built by De Havilland, a well-known Canadian aircraft manufacturer. It is equipped with eco-friendly and advanced facilities like HEPA filter technology, that completely purifies the air inside the aircraft in just four minutes.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Mokammel Hossain, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Chairman Sajjadul Hasan, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mofidur Rahman and Biman Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mokabbir Hossain were also present, among others.

Earlier, among the three newly-purchased Dash-8 planes, 'Akash Tori' arrived in Dhaka on February 24 this year and 'Dhrubo Tara' on December 27 last year.