Novoair begins Dhaka-Kolkata flights

India proposes open sky policy

Over 1 million Bangladeshies to receive visas this year: Indian envoy

New Delhi has proposed an open sky policy on a reciprocal basis in a bid to promote tourism, people-to-people contacts and trade between the two neighbours, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shrigla said yesterday, without providing further details.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Novoair’s Dhaka-Kolkata route, he also said that the number of visas issued by the Indian High Commission would cross 10 lakh (1 million) and far exceed the previous year’s figure.
“As a result, Bangladesh is now one of the biggest sources of tourist arrivals in India,” he added. 
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon was present at the ceremony as chief guest.
The envoy said, “It is our endeavour to improve connectivity between India and Bangladesh by creating multimodal transport links and facilitating easy cross-border movement of goods and people, and the launch of the Novoair flight today is an important step towards meeting this objective.”
Increasingly, more airlines from both the countries are launching or planning to launch flights between India and Bangladesh, he said, adding that there is also interest in launching flights to new destinations such as Guwahati in Assam. 
On trade, Shringla said, “Our bilateral trade has registered a substantial increase over the last few years. Companies from both India and Bangladesh are exploring new opportunities for investing and setting up joint ventures in each other’s country.” 
“Growth in air traffic needs to be supported by adequate aviation infrastructure. India can partner with Bangladesh for executing projects being planned to develop and modernise the civil aviation infrastructure in the country,” he said.
On the visit of the Indian Defence Minister, the envoy said that December is an important month for our two countries as the war of liberation commenced in this month culminating in the liberation of Bangladesh. 
“It is fitting that the first visit of a Defense Minister of India is taking place at this time,” he said. Mofizur Rahman, managing director, Novoair and Air Vice Marshal Ehsanul Gani Choudhury, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, were also present.

Novoair begins Dhaka-Kolkata flights

India proposes open sky policy

Over 1 million Bangladeshies to receive visas this year: Indian envoy

New Delhi has proposed an open sky policy on a reciprocal basis in a bid to promote tourism, people-to-people contacts and trade between the two neighbours, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shrigla said yesterday, without providing further details. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Novoairs Dhaka-Kolkata route, he also said that the number of visas issued by the Indian High Commission would cross 10 lakh (1 million) and far exceed the previous years figure. As a result, Bangladesh is now one of the biggest sources of tourist arrivals in India, he added. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon was present at the ceremony as chief guest. The envoy said, It is our endeavour to improve connectivity between India and Bangladesh by creating multimodal transport links and facilitating easy cross-border movement of goods and people, and the launch of the Novoair flight today is an important step towards meeting this objective. Increasingly, more airlines from both the countries are launching or planning to launch flights between India and Bangladesh, he said, adding that there is also interest in launching flights to new destinations such as Guwahati in Assam. On trade, Shringla said, Our bilateral trade has registered a substantial increase over the last few years. Companies from both India and Bangladesh are exploring new opportunities for investing and setting up joint ventures in each others country. Growth in air traffic needs to be supported by adequate aviation infrastructure. India can partner with Bangladesh for executing projects being planned to develop and modernise the civil aviation infrastructure in the country, he said. On the visit of the Indian Defence Minister, the envoy said that December is an important month for our two countries as the war ofliberation commencedin this month culminatingin the liberation of Bangladesh. It is fitting that the first visit of a Defense Minister of India is taking place at this time, he said. Mofizur Rahman, managing director, Novoair and Air Vice Marshal Ehsanul Gani Choudhury, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, were also present.