Dhaka, Feb. 1 -- Bangladesh government is going to sign a deal with US aviation giant Boeing very soon to procure new aircraft for the state-owned carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the country's foreign affairs adviser has said, citing an acute shortage of planes that has forced the airline to suspend operations on several Middle Eastern routes.

Speaking on Sunday in Dhaka, Md Touhid Hossain said Biman's limited fleet was constraining its international network at a time of growing demand.

"Biman cannot fly on many Middle Eastern routes due to a shortage of aircraft," he said, adding that a deal with Boeing was expected to be signed soon.

Hossain made the remarks at the closing session of a two-day election-related workshop organised f...