Trump's Sales Pitch to Bangladesh Draws Skepticism Over Aviation Deals

US President Donald Trump's sales pitch to Bangladesh for Boeing aircraft has drawn attention from local aviation experts.

Kazi Wahid ul Alam, a former Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and an aviation expert in Dhaka, said that every country and head of state acts like a salesman when visiting another country or exchanging ideas with counterparts. He believes Trump is no exception and will try to sell Boeing aircraft and other products to Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh government has decided to upgrade Cox's Bazar airport into an international one after Dhaka, Chattagram, and Sylhet airports. However, Alam expressed skepticism about the decision, stating that Cox's Bazar is not a significant area for cargo or traffic.

Bangladesh has already signed an agreement with Boeing to buy 14 aircraft at a cost of USD 3.7 billion, which will be supplied between 2031 and 2035. The country plans to add 25 more aircraft to its fleet by 2040, with Biman currently operating 19 planes, including 14 Boeing.