The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) on Sunday granted a licence to Akij Bashir Aviation, a company owned by former commerce adviser Sk Bashir Uddin, to operate a commercial airline.

Akij Bashir Aviation had applied for the licence last year, and the approval was granted following that application.

While serving as adviser to the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, Sk Bashir Uddin was also assigned as adviser to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism on 15 April last year. He was later appointed chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on 26 August.

Shortly after assuming the role of aviation adviser in April, he applied to CAAB for a licence for Akij Bashir Aviation Limited.

Last year, Bashir Uddin said that private helicopter operation licences are not issued in Bangladesh. Therefore, Akij Bashir Aviation applied for a commercial licence.

“Our company has everything ready, including pilots, engineers, and hangar facilities,” he added.