Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The government has urged the United States for taking initiative to start talks on a bilateral air services agreement, which would pave the way for Biman Bangladesh Airlines to resume operating direct flights to the US.
Washington has assured Dhaka of sitting together within the shortest time possible to finalize the text of the bilateral agreement, according to officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
They said as the number of people of Bangladeshi origin living in the USA is gradually increasing, the resumption of the direct air link has become a need of the time because of their growing movement.
Bangladesh strongly felt and requested the favourable consideration of the USA to finalize the draft bilateral air services agreement, the CAAB said in a statement.
The direct air link between Bangladesh and the USA by Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been suspended since 2006, in the wake of aircraft shortage and huge financial losses.
The issue surfaced when delegations from both the countries met in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Monday on the sidelines of International Civil Aviation Organization's Air Services Negotiation Conference.
Air Vice Marshal Mahmud Hussain and US Transportations Department Senior Negotiator Brian J Hedberg signed the draft bilateral air services agreement at Jeddah, the statement added.
BBN/SSR/AD-13Dec12-9:10 am (BST)
