Flights from Bangladesh can now land at any airport in Saudi

Dhaka : Flights from Bangladesh from now onwards will be able to land at any airport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Md Mahbub Ali, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, and Abdulaziz A Al-Duailej, President of General Authority of Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in this regard at the ministry on August 23.

Designated carriers of Bangladesh will be able to operate flights from any airport in Bangladesh to any international airport in Saudi Arabia, subject to discussions with Saudi authorities.

According to the previous MoU signed in 2012, Bangladeshi carriers were able to fly to only Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, and Medina.

The new MoU also allows more flights from Bangladesh. Previously, only 49 passenger and cargo flights were allowed. Now 49 passenger and 21 cargo flights will be allowed.

Speaking at the ceremony, State Minister Mahbub Ali said the present government is working towards transforming Bangladesh into an aviation hub.

"As a result of the MoU, mutual cooperation in the aviation sector of the two countries will increase. It will play a positive role in all aspects of cooperation between the two countries including trade," he said.

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs Tawfiq bin Fawzan Ar-Rabiah was also present at the ceremony.

In his speech, the Hajj and Umrah Minister said, both countries will benefit from the increase in air traffic under the new MoU.

Md Mokammel Hossain, Secretary for Civil Aviation and Tourism and M Mafidur Rahman, Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangla-desh were also present on the occasion, among others.