An allocation of TK160 crore has been made in the budget proposed for 2014-15 fiscal year for Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry for developing country's aviation system and tourism industry.
The proposed budget is Tk125 crore less than the Tk285 revised budget of 2013-14 fiscal year.
Of the total amount, Tk109 crore will be spent under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and Tk51 crore under non-development sector.
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith made the announcement while placing the budget for the new financial year before the Jatiya Sangsad today.
In order to improve passenger service, the minister said two Boeing 777-300 aircraft have been procured while procurement of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft is underway.
Hopefully, another four Boeing 787-800 aircraft will be added to the Biman fleet by 2019, he added.
However, the Finance Minister said in the management of Biman commercial interest should get prefernce over other considerations. "Appropriate steps have to be taken to reduce its losses," he said.
Alongside, the work for expansion and upgradation of other airports including Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will continue, he said.
Meantime, construction of the second runway at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport has been taken up, he said adding the airport at Cox's Bazar will be upgraded to an international one soon.
For the development of the tourism industry, the Minister said "we are taking necessary steps to improve and renovate tourism facilities of different areas of the country.
The Minister said the present government has taken steps to develop exclusive tourist zones under the Public Private Partnership initiative.
For the first time in the country's budget history, the Finance Minister placed a separate booklet containing detailed information on present initiatives and future plans for the development of tourism industry with his budget papers.
