<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The launch of Biman's Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) direct flight will enhance trade and relations between the two countries, Badal Chaklader, president of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (BCCIJ), has said.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said this while speaking at a reception programme organised by BCCIJ in Japan's Tokyo on Sunday (September 03, 2023) night.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He also thanked the Bangladesh government and Biman Bangladesh Airlines for launching the direct flight.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Read: After Narita (Tokyo), Biman eyeing flights to New York, Chennai, Los Angeles, Rome</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We expect that the direct flights would not be discontinued like in the past. We want more Japanese investment in Bangladesh," the BCCIJ president said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“For boosting trade with Japan, initiatives should be taken to operate daily flights in phases. The quality of services offered by the airline should also be enhanced so that domestic and foreign passengers show more interest,” the BCCIJ president added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Business leaders said that Japanese investors were often not interested in going to Bangladesh due to lack of direct flights. It also took a long time for Bangladeshis to travel to and from Japan.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Relations and trade between the two countries will reach a new height due to the direct Biman flights, they hoped.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They also urged Biman authorities to transport dead bodies of Bangladeshi expatriates to the country free of cost.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Business leaders also demanded harassment-free services at Dhaka airport.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Md Mahbub Ali, said, “We have 50 years of relationship with Japan. This relationship will grow even more due to the direct flights to Japan. Biman resumed flights to Tokyo, Japan after 17 years and it will facilitate passengers as well as cargo transportation.”&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Besides, more Japanese businessmen will now come to Bangladesh and invest here as our country has great potential,” he added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Addressing Bangladeshi expatriates in Japan, the state minister said, “Japan is a developed country. If you work like them, you can go a long way.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The state minister also urged them to play a decisive role in attracting Japanese tourists to Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Promising to enhance the quality of air services, Shafiul Azim, managing director and CEO of the national flag carrier, said that after a long time, Biman has been able to start direct flights to Japan.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“All kinds of efforts will be continued to make the Japan route successful,” he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Biman CEO requested expatriate Bangladeshis to help by traveling via Biman and promote the national flag carrier.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mostafa Kamal Uddin, chairman of Biman’s board of directors, thanked the Prime Minister for facilitating the direct flight to Japan.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier on Friday night, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali inaugurated Biman's Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) direct flight at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The inaugural flight took off from Dhaka around 11:45 pm local time and reached Narita International Airport in Japan on September 2 at 9 am local time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apart from Bangladeshis, passengers from Nepal went to Japan via Dhaka on Biman’s inaugural direct flight to Narita (Tokyo). UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>