Bangladesh is set to purchase 25 Boeing aircraft from the U.S. to reduce its trade deficit. The purchase is part of broader efforts to strengthen economic ties.
 |
| Bangladesh announces the purchase of 25 Boeing aircraft from the U.S. to cut its trade deficit. The deal comes ahead of high-stakes U.S.-Bangladesh trade talks. Image: Biman |
DHAKA, Bangladesh – July 27, 2025:
Bangladesh has confirmed an agreement to purchase 25 Boeing aircraft from the United States, marking a significant move to address its growing trade deficit. The announcement was made by Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman on Sunday during a press briefing at the Secretariat.
According to Rahman, the purchase order was placed with Boeing, the American aerospace manufacturer. He emphasized that the transaction is between Bangladesh and Boeing, a private corporation, not the U.S. government. Mahbubur also highlighted that other countries like India, Vietnam, and Indonesia are also making large aircraft purchases, with India and Vietnam each ordering 100 planes, while Indonesia has committed to 50.
“We had initially ordered 14 aircraft. Now, we’ve placed an additional order for 25 more, which will help us address the trade imbalance,” Mahbubur explained.
Mahbubur noted that Boeing would deliver the planes according to its production capacity, which means it may take one to two years before all aircraft are delivered.
In related news, Mahbubur also announced that the third and final round of tariff talks between the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and Bangladesh will take place on July 29-30 in Washington, D.C. Bangladesh had submitted its position paper on July 23 as part of these discussions.
Rahman, along with Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin and Chief Adviser’s Representative Khalilur Rahman, will be attending the meeting. The delegation is expected to leave for the U.S. on Monday evening.
A key part of the upcoming trade talks will also focus on Bangladesh’s soybean and cotton imports. Mahbubur mentioned that private soybean importers in Bangladesh are working to secure direct deals with U.S. exporters. He expressed hope that a compromise could be reached during the talks.
Additionally, Mahbubur Rahman noted that cotton imports have already been finalized, although their value has declined from $1.8 billion three years ago. Efforts are underway to bring imports back to previous levels, which could reduce the trade deficit by up to $1 billion.