Pakistan’s explanation for intercepting Bangladeshi aircraft. Photo: Collected
The Pakistan High Commission has said that the decision to deny permission to use its airspace to a plane carrying uranium from Russia for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is not a political decision. It is mainly a technical and procedural matter related to determining the flight route and granting permission to use the airspace.
A statement from the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka on Tuesday (September 29) said that all requests for diplomatic flights and airspace use are reviewed in accordance with the country’s prevailing rules, civil aviation protocols and prescribed procedures.
The High Commission said that the issues raised in the reports on fuel transport in Rooppur are mainly related to technical arrangements related to flight routes and airspace permissions. Such matters may require coordination between the relevant aviation and other authorities. This may sometimes result in changes to flight schedules.
Pakistan has said that its relations with Bangladesh are very important. Therefore, the matter should be seen in its proper technical context and no undue importance should be given to any report or statement that could damage the relations between the two countries.
Bangladesh’s Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam had said that the plane carrying fuel from Rooppur was supposed to arrive in Bangladesh on September 24. But it could not arrive on time due to not getting permission to use Pakistan’s airspace. The specific reason why Pakistan did not give permission at that time was not known.
Officials of the Rooppur project said the flight was suspended after Pakistan refused to grant permission to use the airspace of several countries. However, Rosatom said that uranium supplies will resume from October and all shipments will be completed by the end of the year.