The government on Thursday proposed an allocation of BDT 1,884 crore for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism in the national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year (FY27).

The allocation rolls out an ambitious roadmap designed to transform Bangladesh into a modern regional aviation and tourism hub, backed by the planned development of four new international aviation gateways.

The proposed allocation marks an increase from the revised outlay of BDT 1,300 crore in the outgoing FY26, though it stands lower than the fiscal year's original allocation of BDT 2,455 crore.

Placing the national budget in the Jatiya Sangsad, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury outlined a series of comprehensive infrastructure developments, fleet expansions, and connectivity initiatives geared toward boosting tourism-driven economic growth.

“Integrated development programmes are being implemented to build a modern, efficient and globally competitive aviation industry,” the Finance Minister stated.

Expanding the International Gateways and Connectivity Grid

In a major structural shift for the country's aviation landscape, the government plans to upgrade four domestic airports—Rajshahi, Cox's Bazar, Jashore, and Saidpur—into fully functional international gateways.

Currently, only Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka, Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram, and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet hold international status.

Chowdhury announced that these upgrades will pave the way for a newly envisioned "national air connectivity grid." Under this master plan, the existing major hubs in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet will be transformed into integrated passenger and logistics hubs.

To complement this infrastructure, the government will introduce an integrated digital logistics platform. This platform is designed to facilitate the seamless movement of goods, strengthen supply chains, and vastly improve overall trade and transportation efficiency.

Mega Infrastructure Upgrades and Biman’s BDT 45,408cr Fleet Expansion

The Finance Minister highlighted several ongoing and upcoming airport infrastructure projects.

Terminal facilities at Jashore and Saidpur airports are actively being expanded, while the iconic Third Terminal of HSIA in Dhaka is set for full-scale operations.

Furthermore, the budget seeks to enhance runway capacities at the Chattogram and Sylhet airports, alongside completing vital development works at Cox's Bazar Airport.

On the digital services front, Chowdhury noted that passenger convenience has already been targeted with the expansion of Wi-Fi network coverage across nearly 94,000 square meters of HSIA.

In a massive boost to the national flag carrier, the Minister revealed that Biman Bangladesh Airlines has signed a final agreement with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing to procure 14 modern aircraft.

The procurement is estimated to cost USD 3.7 billion, equivalent to BDT 45,408 crore.

"The initiative will expand Biman's fleet, strengthen international connectivity, enhance passenger and cargo transportation capacity and reinforce Bangladesh's competitiveness in the global aviation market," Chowdhury said.

Targeting a 7% GDP Contribution from Tourism

Beyond physical infrastructure, the Finance Minister emphasized that the government is focused on ensuring hassle-free passenger services, upgrading facilities specifically for expatriate workers, promoting renewable energy, and training skilled human resources to build an inclusive aviation ecosystem.

As part of the broader tourism development strategy, the government is currently preparing a dedicated investment roadmap.

This framework aims to attract foreign and domestic tourists, generate substantial employment opportunities, and aggressively stimulate private-sector investment.

The Finance Minister expressed strong optimism that these combined initiatives will accelerate the growth of the hospitality industry, helping achieve the national target of raising the tourism sector's contribution to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to between six and seven percent.