Bangladesh and USA have formally signed an air transport agreement today. From now on, this agreement will act as the primary basis to resume flight operations between the two countries.

According to the agreement, both Bangladesh and USA will be able to operate flights between the two countries through code sharing, Civil Aviation Ministry said in a release.

As per the agreement and on the basis of open-air policy, both countries can nominate any number of airlines as their designated carriers to operate flights between the two countries.

The designated airlines of each country will be able to operate any number of passenger and cargo aircraft -- by any aircraft -- between the two countries under the open sky policy (third and fourth).

The designated airlines of the two countries will be able to operate any passenger aircraft and cargo aircraft by any aircraft at any intermediate or remote point under the open sky policy (fifth).

The agreement was signed at the conference room of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism at the Secretariat today.

Mohibul Haque, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Earl R Miller, US Ambassador to Bangladesh, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments.

The formal agreement was signed today in light of a primary agreement signed between the two countries in 2013.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Mahbub Ali said the agreement signed between Bangladesh and the United States was a landmark step in mutual cooperation in the aviation sector of the two countries.

Direct air communication will play a positive role in all areas of cooperation, including trade and commerce between the two countries.

Today's air communication agreement is a testament to the strength of the existing friendship between Bangladesh and the United States, he said.

"We hope that by fulfilling all the conditions, we will soon be able to establish direct air communication with the United States," he also said.

He said work is underway to achieve the Category-1 status set by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to start direct flights between the two countries.

Earl R Miller said the aviation agreement signed today would further enhance the friendship between the two countries. The introduction of direct air communication will give a new dimension to the people-to-people relations between the two countries. The agreement will have a positive impact on tourism, including trade, he said.

Chairman of Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority Air-Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sabbir Ahmed Chowdhury, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation Janendra Nath Sarkar were present at the signing ceremony.