Dhaka, Oct. 8 -- Bangladesh did not sign a deal to buy Airbus aircraft to please EU ambassadors, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir has said.

He insisted the purchase was driven solely by the country's business needs.

Speaking at Wednesday's signing ceremony for 10 Airbus aircraft for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Kobir also described some remarks by French Ambassador Jean-Marc Sere-Charlet as "uncomfortable and sending the wrong message".

Addressing the envoy, he said: "You somehow assume that we have given everything to the United States. What we do with the United States is an internal matter between Bangladesh and the US."

Bangladesh agreed in September to buy 25 Boeing aircraft from the US, amid discussions over geopol...