Staff Correspondent

French Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet has expressed hope that the newly elected BNP government will "seriously consider" purchasing Airbus aircraft, despite recent leanings towards American rival Boeing.

Following a courtesy meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday, the envoy emphasised that while he discussed long-term bilateral issues, the aviation deal remains a critical field of cooperation.

The push for Airbus comes amid a shifting geopolitical landscape.

During the previous Awami League administration, a preliminary commitment was made to purchase 10 wide-body aircraft from the European consortium.

Following the 2024 mass uprising and subsequent trade pressure from US President Donald Trump, the interim government announced plans last July to buy 25 Boeing aircraft to mitigate potential tariff risks.

"We are still discussing with the government about Airbus. Airbus is still discussing with the government. We'll see what happens after," Séré-Charlet told reporters. "We hope that Airbus will be taken seriously. Because it's a good company."

The ambassador noted that technical discussions had already taken place and that the proposals were previously "well accepted by Biman".

The European diplomatic community, including envoys from the UK, Germany, and the EU, has previously warned that moving away from the Airbus "commitment" could impact trade relations.

Last year, German Ambassador Rüdiger Lotz suggested that market access for Bangladeshi products in Europe might be influenced by such procurement decisions.

Responding to queries on whether the new government would reverse the interim administration's Boeing-heavy stance, Séré-Charlet remained cautious.

"It is a new government; it has many issues to tackle. We are sure it's a wise government... I will not preempt the government's decision."

State Minister Shama maintained that Bangladesh’s procurement and foreign policy would remain pragmatic.

"We have discussions on trade, investment, and foreign policy with all our bilateral and multilateral friends. Our relations with all countries will be based on a 'Bangladesh First' policy," she said.