Bangladesh and the United States are set to sign a bilateral trade agreement on Monday (9 February), with Dhaka also deciding to purchase 25 aircraft from US-based manufacturer Boeing, a senior government adviser has said.

Talking to journalists at the Secretariat on Sunday, Commerce, Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sk Bashiruddin said details of the agreement would be made public after it is formally signed.

He said Bangladesh currently exports goods worth around Tk 1 lakh crore to the United States, describing the US as a crucial market for the country. 

The decision to buy Boeing aircraft, he added, was taken to help retain this market and further strengthen bilateral relations.

According to the adviser, the purchase of the 25 aircraft is expected to cost between Tk 30,000 crore and Tk 35,000 crore.

Bashiruddin said the United States had initially proposed that Bangladesh buy a total of 47 aircraft, but a decision had been taken for now to proceed with the purchase of 25.

He said that once the trade agreement is concluded, its terms and conditions would be disclosed publicly.

Referring to the timing of the deal, Bashiruddin said the interim government was finalising the agreement just three days before the election to ensure that the incoming elected government would not face additional pressure.

The adviser also said he would submit his asset statement before leaving office, adding that his declaration had already been prepared. He noted that 22 ministers and advisers before him had served as chair of the airline’s board, and that he was the 23rd to hold the position.

Bangladesh’s trade agreement with Japan was a historic achievement for the country, he added.