The launch of Biman's Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) direct flight will enhance trade and relations between the two countries, Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (BCCIJ) President Badal Khandaker said.
He said this while speaking at a reception programme organised by BCCIJ in Japan's Tokyo on Sunday night.
He also thanked the Bangladesh government and Biman Bangladesh Airlines for launching the direct flight.
"We expect that the direct flights would not be discontinued like in the past. We want more Japanese investment in Bangladesh," the BCCIJ president said.
“For boosting trade with Japan, initiatives should be taken to operate daily flights in phases. The quality of services offered by the airline should also be enhanced so that domestic and foreign passengers show more interest,” the BCCIJ president added.
Business leaders said that Japanese investors were often not interested in going to Bangladesh due to lack of direct flights. It also took a long time for Bangladeshis to travel to and from Japan.
Relations and trade between the two countries will reach a new height due to the direct Biman flights, they hoped.
They also urged Biman authorities to transport dead bodies of Bangladeshi expatriates to the country free of cost.
Business leaders also demanded harassment-free services at Dhaka airport.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Md Mahbub Ali, said, “We have 50 years of relationship with Japan. This relationship will grow even more due to the direct flights to Japan. Biman resumed flights to Tokyo, Japan after 17 years and it will facilitate passengers as well as cargo transportation.”
“Besides, more Japanese businessmen will now come to Bangladesh and invest here as our country has great potential,” he added.
Addressing Bangladeshi expatriates in Japan, the state minister said, “Japan is a developed country. If you work like them, you can go a long way.”
The state minister also urged them to play a decisive role in attracting Japanese tourists to Bangladesh.
Promising to enhance the quality of air services, Shafiul Azim, managing director and CEO of the national flag carrier, said that after a long time, Biman has been able to start direct flights to Japan.
“All kinds of efforts will be continued to make the Japan route successful,” he said.
The Biman CEO requested expatriate Bangladeshis to help by traveling via Biman and promote the national flag carrier.
Mostafa Kamal Uddin, chairman of Biman’s board of directors, thanked the Prime Minister for facilitating the direct flight to Japan.
Earlier on Friday night, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali inaugurated Biman's Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) direct flight at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).
The inaugural flight took off from Dhaka around 11:45pm local time and reached Narita International Airport in Japan on September 2 at 9am local time.
Apart from Bangladeshis, passengers from Nepal went to Japan via Dhaka on Biman’s inaugural direct flight to Narita (Tokyo).
