State Minister for Civil Aviation M Mahbub Ali on Tuesday told parliament that the government will take measures to remove all the smoking zones at all the airports as part of its goal to build a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040.
“Necessary measures will be taken for the removal of all designated places for smoking at all the airports of the country,” the state minister said in reply to a question from Awami League MP Habibe Millat.
In a scripted answer, the state minister also said the government has taken initiatives to make residential rooms of hotels and motels completely free from smoking in phases.
Mahbub Ali said there are separate rooms for smokers inside the terminal buildings of international airports in a bid to save nonsmokers including women and children from passive smoking.
In reply to a question from another ruling party lawmaker, Didarul Alam, the state minister said nine travel agents of Biman Bangladesh Airlines owe over Tk10.92 crore to the national flag carrier.
However, all the travel agents except for Kuka Travel Pvt Ltd have already declared bankruptcy.
The state minister said the travel agents are Kolkata-based Kuka Travel Pvt Ltd (owes 1,744,421 Indian rupees to Biman), Kuala Lumpur-based Tara Tours and Travels (84,721 Malaysian ringgit), London-based New Link (£135,651), United Travels (£259,152), Bashundhara (£17,282), Neel Akasa (£43,881), Kushiara Travels (£321,398), KMC Travels (£31,680 pound) and HAC Travels (£17,443).
