Vienna

PID PM Hasina presided over a virtual meeting on Tuesday

Bangladesh okays Dhaka-Vienna direct flights, approves draft

With the signing of the Air Services Agreement between the Austrian Federal Government and the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the opportunity to operate flights and cargo flights to other European destinations, including Vienna, will be opened.

The regular cabinet meeting was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Prime Minister and Ministers from the Cabinet Division of the Secretariat joined the meeting via video conference.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam briefed reporters at the Secretariat.

He said, "Once the proposed agreement is signed, it will be considered as the main basis for direct flights between Bangladesh and Austria. And if air connectivity is established between the two countries, cooperation in trade, trade, labor market, industry, health and defense will increase. At the same time, air communication with other European countries will be easier."

"Vienna, like Geneva, is also the headquarters of a number of international organizations, which is important to us," he said. "This agreement has been made in accordance with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization."

Khandaker Anwarul Islam said, "The main point of this agreement is that the two countries can determine the number of passenger and cargo flights on the basis of mutual negotiations. At the time of signing the agreement, the MoU stipulates that the airlines of both the countries will be able to operate seven passenger and cargo flights a week."

He said, "If there is any problem in this regard, it can be resolved on the basis of discussion between the two sides or we have to go for arbitration."

The Secretary also said that a bilateral aviation agreement was signed between Bangladesh and Vienna on May 18, 2018 in Vienna, Austria.