Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked all concerned at Biman Bangladesh Airlines to take good care of all the aircraft in its fleet and ensure better passenger service.

"Sixteen new aircraft have been procured with public money, and there're now 21 aircraft in Biman's fleet. These should be kept safe alongside providing better services to passengers. I'm asking you to give special attention to all this," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the two new aircraft -- "Akash Tori" and "Shwetbalaka" -- at the VVIP Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, aiming to increase flight frequencies and expand the services of the national flag carrier, particularly on domestic routes.

She joined the programme virtually from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

Sheikh Hasina said all those involved with Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which represents Bangladesh in the world, have to remember that the country was liberated with the blood of millions of martyrs.

Talking about the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, she said the government is setting up this ultramodern terminal with a view to handling wide-bodied planes in the country and improve the services to passengers.

About the Dash-8 planes, the Prime Minister said, Bangladesh will be able to increase its communication with the neighbouring countries apart from developing it at domestic level.

She said the government is upgrading Cox's Bazar airport to an international one as this airport can play a significant role in the international air route.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali and Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain also spoke at the programme from the VVIP Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The newly-inducted aircrafts are the second and third Dash 8-400 ones for the airliner. The second one arrived in the country on February 24 while the third one on March 5 last.

The first Dash-8 aircraft, "Dhrubotara", purchased on a government-to-government basis from Canada, was added to Biman's fleet on December 27, 2020.

Prime Minister named all three aircraft.