DHAKA, Oct 23, 2019 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon
the authorities concerned to ensure safe flying and maintenance of the
aircraft in order for bringing down occurrence of airplane accidents,
describing flight operating as a highly technical profession.
“You all must ensure utmost care for safe flying and maintenance of the
aircraft purchased by hard-earned revenue and foreign currency,” she said
while speaking as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of three-day 6th
seminar on “International Flight Safety” at a city hotel.
Mentioning that there is no alternative to professional skills and honesty
to this end, the premier said: “Operating airplane is highly technical
profession in which expertise is a must. This professionalism brings
confidence for people concerned and simultaneously brings glory and honor for
the organisations.”
The premier expected that the participants of local-foreign as well as
military-civil agencies with their rich experience and knowledge gathered
from the seminar would be able to identify different challenges for improving
flight safety standards which help to curb airplane accidents.
“Our national agencies have been benefitted from the opinion exchange
programme, which would greatly help them to ensure flight safety in our
country,” she opined.
Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB)
jointly organised the seminar.
The theme of the sixth “International Flight Safety” seminar is “Team
effort can ensure Team Safety”.
Participants of 16 Air Forces from different countries of four continents
and representative from International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) took
part in the seminar.
Representatives from USA, Italy, China, Malaysia, India, Turkey, Indonesia,
Sri Lanka, Maldives, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Morocco,
Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh took part in the seminar.
The premier earlier distributed certificates among speakers of the seminar.
Speakers from Bangladesh, India, Italy, Nigeria, Malaysia and representatives
from International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Civil Aviation
Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) were provided with the certificates. State
Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism was present on the dais while Chief
of the Air Staff of Bangladesh Air Force Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman
Serniabat, Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Vice
Marshall M Mafidur Rahman and Director of Flight Safety at Bangladesh Air
Force Air Commodore Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman spoke on the occasion.
The prime minister later visited pavilions of local and international
airways and Bangladesh Air Force.
Referring to a recent survey of International Civil Aviation Organisation
on flight safety in which CAAB has obtained highest 75.46% marks among Asian
countries, Sheikh Hasina said, “Bangladesh Air Force and our civil aviation
authority are maintaining comparatively better and satisfactory standard in
flight safety in the region.”
“Recently, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has also achieved international Five
Star award in safe aviation standard,” she said, expressing hope that
Bangladesh Civil Aviation would be declared as Category-1 by the
International Safety Assessment Programme of US Federal Aviation Administration.
Highlighting various projects taken by her government for the development
of civil aviation, the prime minister said, “We are implementing a project to
turn Cox’s Bazar Airport into an International one, expanding its runway into
12,000ft.”
She said the present government is going to construct one more
international airport in Bagerhat district, adding, “We are working to make
Saidpur Airport a regional hub for further strengthening connectivity with
neighbouring countries – India, Bhutan and Nepal.”
In this context, she also said, “After assuming office for the first time,
we have upgraded Sylhet and Chittagong airports as the international ones.”
Noting that her government has taken a number of measures to make air trip
accessible, comfortable and safe, she said “The government is constructing
third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Upon completion of
the terminal, it will be possible to provide service to approximately 12
million passengers per year which is two and a half times more than that of
the existing capacities.”
The premier said Awami League government has also enacted Civil Aviation
Authority Act, 2017 to upgrade the civil aviation.
“Our steps will provide comforts to air travelers and also help to create
new air routes in the days to come. As a result, we are optimistic for faster
growth of our tourism industry,” she stated.
Elaborating the government’s measures for the development of Bangladesh Air
Force dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the
premier said, “Our government is working hard to build the Air Force as a
strong force and also to modernize Biman Bangladesh Airlines through
purchasing state of the art fighter aircraft, aircraft, radar systems and
other complementary equipment in phases.”
Bangabandhu through his visionary and firm decision stepped up modernising
the nascent Air Force by including supersonic fighter aircraft MiG-21,
transport aircraft, helicopters, and air defence radar system, she stated.
The premier said, “During our government in 1996, we started modernizing
Air Force as a time-befitting force and undertook different programmes. That
time onward, we included Fourth Generation MIG-29 Fighter Aircraft, YAK-13,
C-130J transport aircraft, L-410 and AW-119 and AW-139 maritime search and
rescue helicopter into the Air Force. Later, we purchased two DC-10 aircraft
for inclusion in civil aviation sector in 1999 and 2000.”
“When we came into power again in 2009, we concentrated on capacity
building for manufacture, maintenance and overhauling of various types of
aircraft and other equipment,” she added.
The premier said, “We purchased 10 passenger carriers, including four B-787
dreamliners, two B-737 and four B-777 from Boeing in over the last 10 years.”
“These most modern aircraft are suitable for carrying long distance
flights for example from Dhaka to New York, Toronto, Sydney etc. and we are
eager to do that. Keeping this in mind, our civil aviation authority has been
working faster to upgrade it as a category-1 authority,” she continued.
Mentioning that Bangabandhu Aeronautical Centre was established in 2011,
she said, “We are expecting that all types of aircraft both civil and
military will be fixed at this centre shortly. State of the Art 3D Helicopter
Simulator has already been inducted in BAF to ensure realistic training of
our pilots.”
“We are implementing the “Forces Goal 2030″ as a part of expansion and
modernization of the armed forces,” she further added.
Recalling the contribution of air force in 1971, she said, “Bangladesh Air
Force was born on 28 September 1971. During that time, many civil pilots
joined Air Force pilots and a special flying unit named ‘Kilo Flight’ was
formed then which contributed significantly during the Liberation War.” On
establishment of an aviation university, the premier said, “We passed a bill
in the parliament on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace
University on 28 February 2019.”
“We are going to establish the university in Lalmonirhat with a goal to
develop skilled human resources in aviation sector…this institute will
start its world class academic function shortly,” she added.
