Bangladesh orders 25 Boeing planes, Airbus eyes deals

DHAKA: Bangladesh has ordered 25 wide-body aircraft from Boeing as part of a tariff deal with the United States, a top commerce ministry official told AFP on Thursday, as European envoys push an Airbus agreement.

“We made a commitment and ordered 25 wide-bodies, and we expect to receive the first one in 2029,” official Mahbubur Rahman said. “It´s part of the tariff deal with the US.”

Bangladesh has been in political turmoil since a student-led uprising in August 2024 overthrew autocratic former leader Sheikh Hasina.

The South Asian nation, the world´s second-biggest garment manufacturer, struck a trade deal with the United States to scale back President Donald Trump´s punishing tariffs in August.

Dhaka proposed buying Boeing planes and boosting imports of US wheat, cotton and oil to help narrow its trade deficit, which Trump has used as justification for imposing painful levies.

Rahman said Dhaka was also considering an offer from Boeing´s European rival.

“We have offers from Airbus as well, and an assessment is currently ongoing,” he said.

Bangladesh´s state-run BSS news agency said national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines was reviewing proposals from both companies.

Airbus has proposed supplying 10 A350 wide-body and four A320neo narrow-body aircraft, BSS said.

Boeing´s further offer is for 10 787 Dreamliners and four 737 MAX jets, it reported.

Bangladesh has a reported 19 aircraft in its current fleet, an estimated 14 of them from Boeing.

European envoys at talks held in Dhaka this month sought to woo Bangladesh into buying Airbus planes, BSS said.