Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan has said efforts are underway to transform the country's aviation industry into a smart, efficient and service-oriented one.
 
To make Bangladesh's aviation sector a smart one, we are emphasizing creating skilled manpower, developing infrastructure and installing modern security systems at all airports," the minister told a meeting with representatives of foreign airlines operating flights to or from Bangladesh at the Parjatan Bhaban in Dhaka on Sunday, a press release reads. 

Emphasizing providing optimum service to passengers, Faruk said airlines should be alert to reducing unnecessary harassment of passengers. 

"I believe, working all together, every airline can operate flights from Bangladesh more easily, safely and efficiently... It will be easy to fulfil the goal of transforming Bangladesh into a major aviation hub under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said.

Talking about the profit remittance of the foreign airlines from Bangladesh, Faruk said the ministry is working with the Bangladesh Bank in this regard.

He said some portion of airline profits has already been remitted from Bangladesh, while the process is ongoing to increase the amount. 

Besides, the minister said he will discuss with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) the different taxation matters and the easy and prompt customs clearance of aviation-related equipment that is imported by airlines. 

He said efforts to upgrade Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from Category-1 to Category-2 for the Instrument Landing System (ILS) are underway for safe landings. 

Besides, he said the ILS system has been installed in the airports in Sylhet, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.

The feasibility study of constructing the dependent runway of HSIA has been completed, and soon the next phase of this work will start, he added.