Biman Bangladesh Airlines is poised to finalize a deal for 11 additional Boeing aircraft in New York on Wednesday, coinciding with the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The signing ceremony is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. New York time (2:15 a.m. Thursday, Bangladesh time) and will be attended by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who has included the event in his official schedule. Biman Chairman Rumee Akhtar Hossain is set to sign the agreement, with Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir also expected to be present. Following the ceremony, Boeing Global President Brendan Nelson will meet with the prime minister at the Hyatt Grand Central New York, where Rahman is staying.

This latest Boeing agreement comes after Biman’s historic order in April for 14 Boeing planes valued at $3.7 billion, comprising eight 787-10s, two 787-9s, and four 737 Max-8s, with deliveries slated between 2031 and 2035. Details on the models, pricing, financing, and delivery schedule for the 11 new planes remain undisclosed.

At the same time, France has intensified its efforts to promote Airbus sales to Biman, advocating for a fair and balanced competitive environment for European companies operating in Bangladesh. French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet emphasized in Dhaka that Airbus’s proposal forms part of Bangladesh’s broader engagement with Europe and represents a long-term partnership. He clarified that France is not pressuring Bangladesh to choose between Airbus and Boeing, stating that procurement decisions are commercial rather than political.

Biman is currently negotiating a separate purchase of 10 Airbus aircraft—four A350-900s and six A321neos—with the contract expected to be signed in early October, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Ambassador Séré-Charlet described the negotiations as proceeding well but noted that transactions of this scale require thorough due diligence to avoid future questions about the process.

The Airbus proposal has also drawn support from European governments, with envoys from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the European Union championing Airbus for Biman last year. EU Ambassador Michael Miller reiterated calls for a level playing field for Airbus earlier this month.

Economic ties between Bangladesh and Europe remain significant but skewed. Séré-Charlet highlighted that more than 48% of Bangladesh’s ready-made garment exports are directed to European markets, with bilateral trade with France surpassing 4.5 billion euros—though this relationship is heavily concentrated in textiles. He suggested expanding cooperation into sectors such as pharmaceuticals and technology and noted that while the EU has free trade agreements with many nations, Bangladesh has yet to negotiate one.

If both the Boeing and Airbus deals proceed as planned, Biman could expand its fleet to 54 aircraft, up from the current 19, reflecting the airline’s ongoing modernization and growth strategy.