BD needs to boost aviation industry to gain SDGs target

 We are still lagging behind in ensuring global standard aviation services for lack of proper infrastructure. If we want to raise the income share from tourism sector to GDP, it is crucial for the further flourishment of the aviation industry which would help tourism income and remittance inflow in the country, says Morshedul Alam Chaklader.

Lenin Rahman

Bangladesh needs to expand the aviation industry accordingly in a bid to ensure higher contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the tourism sector in line with the achievement of SDG goals of the incumbent government led by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prosperous Bangladesh as per the envision of the father of the nation Bangabanddu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“We have a lot of potential to boost the aviation industry and it has a multiple positive impact on the economy of the country. If we want to raise the income share from tourism sector to GDP, it is crucial for the further flourishment of the aviation industry which would help tourism income and remittance inflow in the country”, told   Morshedul Alam Chaklader, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Total Air Services Ltd while providing an exclusive interview to the Daily Tribunal at his Gulshan office in the capital recently.

Morshedul Alam Chaklader, a reputed, young and humanitarian stakeholder who is putting his utmost effort to improve the socio –economic condition of the rural and urban people through implementing multifarious development projects in aviation, home appliance and food industry and so on. Apart from this, he is involved with various social and humanitarian activities.

Actually, Total Air Services Limited (TAS), the authorized General Sales Agent (GSA) of a good number of leading airlines including AirAsia, Kuwait and Maladivian in the Bangladesh chapter. TAS is also the GSA of SMSA Express which is a globally recognized cargo and freight company.

Chaklader underscored the need for improving the infrastructure of the airports with a view to ensuring hassle-free and international standard aviation services as well as to boost the tourism sector and economy as well.

“We are still lagging behind in ensuring global standard aviation services for lack of proper infrastructure and skilled manpower. International standard aviation industry is a must to attract more tourists from abroad and poor infrastructure of the airports are hindering the growth of the aviation industry. The suffering of the migrant workers and their family members in the airports are agonizing, so, the improvement of the infrastructure of the airports is a must to boost the remittance inflow in the country”, added Chaklader.

Turning his attention toward Total Air Services Limited GSA AirAsia, Chaklader said that AirAsia is the world’s best low cost airline for nine consecutive years, recommenced direct flights from Dhaka to Kuala Lumpur with the slogan “Now everyone can fly” tapping into the vast market with over 18 million populations from 10 July 2015 onward. Our mission is to attain the lowest cost so that everyone can fly with AirAsia and maintain the highest quality, embracing technology to reduce cost and enhance service standards, he said adding that AirAsia is offering lowest and unbeatable fare to Australia, Brunei and many other destinations.

Commenting on the recent skyrocketing price hike of the petroleum products, Chaklader expressed his deep concern because higher fuel prices are imposing an artificial crisis to operate the business accordingly and to increase the operational cost.

The price hiking of jet fuel is affecting the growth of the aviation industry. Already, the airplane fare increased by almost 15 to 20 percent because of the price hike of the jet fuel.

“As the foreign airlines buy jet fuel at lower prices, it will have an adverse impact on the local aviation industry”, he mentioned.

Alongside the aviation business, Morshedul Alam Chaklader is the Managing directors of Maxwell Group BD, Roots Food & Bvg Ltd. On the other hand, Chaklader is the Director of Eastern Logistics Ltd Private ICD, BMSL Investment Ltd, AutoKap Bricks Ltd. Besides, he is also the proprietor of Maxwell Trading Corporation and CEO of Maxwell Electronics.

Talking on the existing business, Chaklader informed that Maxwell Group develops, owns and manages luxury retirement communities along with other related senior living care entities.

Maxwell Group established in 1989 and the company already gained the trust of the local people for getting affordable and quality home appliances and food products.

The Company has built its reputation on developing luxury communities for senior adults and reinvigorating distressed properties into productive communities that provide a high quality of life for their members, he said, adding that his company won some 11 prestigious industry awards in the disciplines of wellness, human resources, safety and design.

Commenting on the arena of his business, Chaklader informed that Maxwell Group is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and currently manages communities in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

“The Company’s management team consists of 53 professionals providing development, operational, marketing, sales, accounting, IT, design, and construction services support to communities with more than 3,000 units and 2,600 employees”, also added Chaklader.

The humanitarian stakeholder is facilitating the unemployed youth in many parts of the country through conducting Meat & Bones projects.

Apart from this, Chaklader is operating a good number of charity projects across the country for uplifting the livelihood of the poor, ultra-poor and underprivileged people.

Actually, the working area of the reputed businessman is so vast that it is not possible to conclude the whole thinking in a one interview because he wants to share his achievement with the mass people of the country.