The government will not have to pay for its planned purchase of Boeing aircraft from the United States all at once, so the deal is unlikely to put significant pressure on the economy, Information Advisor Zahed Ur Rahman has said.

He made the comments at the government’s weekly press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday in response to a question about whether buying so many Boeing aircraft could put pressure on the economy, reports bdnews24.com.

Bangladesh has operated Boeing aircraft for a long time and already has much of the support staff and trained personnel needed to operate them, he said, explaining the government’s preference for the US manufacturer.

While acknowledging that the government inherited a weak economy, Zahed said the aircraft would be delivered over a considerable period, allowing the payments to be spread out rather than made upfront.

“So if anyone thinks we have to pay a lot of money immediately or within a very short time, that is not the case at all,” he said.

The advisor said the state still had to meet essential needs during a crisis, adding that the Boeing purchase would have “no immediate economic impact”.

He expressed confidence that the government would overcome the economic crisis without taking too long and that buying the Boeing aircraft needed by the country would not put significant pressure on the economy.

He also said Bangladesh could buy aircraft from Airbus, the French manufacturer, if needed.

“The European Union, whose companies manufacture Airbus aircraft, is continuing discussions with the government,” he said.

Zahed said the government had made it clear that aircraft would also be purchased from Airbus according to need.

“There is no question of leaving one out and bringing the other forward,” he added.