Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
State-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines is undergoing through a major overhaul in its top management posts to get rid of systemic graft, bad management and perennial financial losses.
A high-powered committee is working to improve the national flag carrier’s overall management in line with a directive from government high-ups, officials said.
As part of the management overhaul, Biman’s Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) AM Mosaddique Ahmed has been relieved of his duties on Tuesday.
Biman’s board came up with the move after getting proofs of a number of irregularities, including the appointment of pilots, ticket sale and embezzlement of funds from non-scheduled freighter.
Biman Director (Operation) Captain Farhat Hasan Jamil has been given the charge of acting managing director until a new MD is appointed, according to the Secretary for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md. Mohibul Haque.
“A new MD will be appointed within June 15,” he added.
Prior to this, changes have been brought in Biman’s two key directors and several other
management posts while three senior officials of its marketing and sales department have been transferred as part of the management overhaul process.
Furthermore, Biman’s Country Manager in the UK has been made an officer on special duty (OSD) for his alleged involvement in embezzling Tk 15 crore from sales of tickets.
Two new General Managers have also been posted to the Biman’s Marketing and Sales Department to ensure transparency and accountibility of the national flag carrier’s Marketing and Sales team.
Admitting the matter, Secretary for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md. Mohibul Haque told The New Nation that Biman is the property of state and people own it. The operation of Biman should be made accountable to the people.
“We will do everything to make Biman graft free and profitable,” he added.
The Secretary further said that his ministry is working with a new plan to expand Baman’s fleet and routes to make it a truly commercial organisation.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has earlier identified various sources of irregularities and corruption in Biman.
On March 3, the national anti-graft body submitted reports on corruption at Biman to State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali and recommended action to block the sources of corruption.
ACC identified irregularities and corruptions at Biman’s procurement and lease of aircraft, maintenance and overhaul, ground servicing, cargo import and export, passenger transportation and ticket sale, embezzlement of extra baggage charge and food catering.
On Thursday, the ACC issued a travel ban on sacked Biman managing director Mosaddique Ahmed and nine other officials for investigation into alleged graft in Biman.
“We will not tolerate corruption in Biman anymore. Corrupt officials would be brought under the book,” said Md. Mohibul Haque.
He said the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has already identified Biman’s corrupt officials. They will be shown the door to make Biman graft free.
Bangladesh Biman Corporation was turned into a public limited company in 2007 to operate the national flag carrier commercially in the wake of perennial financial losses.
“But the process is yet to yield any positive result on Biman’s overall operation due to systemic graft within the organisation,” a former director of Biman told The New Nation yesterday asking not to be named.
He said the main problem lies with Biman board, which is run by the non-professional people with no track record in aviation industry. So, the board should be revamped first with professional people to have a proper planning to make the operation of Biman viable.
“A professional Board can help Biman corruption free, rebuild its international reputation, improve service and overcome perennial losses,” he added.
Biman reported Tk 201 crore net losses in the last financial year (2017-18) despite a double-digit growth in passengers and improved revenue earnings.
State-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines is undergoing through a major overhaul in its top management posts to get rid of systemic graft, bad management and perennial financial losses.
A high-powered committee is working to improve the national flag carrier’s overall management in line with a directive from government high-ups, officials said.
As part of the management overhaul, Biman’s Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) AM Mosaddique Ahmed has been relieved of his duties on Tuesday.
Biman’s board came up with the move after getting proofs of a number of irregularities, including the appointment of pilots, ticket sale and embezzlement of funds from non-scheduled freighter.
Biman Director (Operation) Captain Farhat Hasan Jamil has been given the charge of acting managing director until a new MD is appointed, according to the Secretary for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md. Mohibul Haque.
“A new MD will be appointed within June 15,” he added.
Prior to this, changes have been brought in Biman’s two key directors and several other
management posts while three senior officials of its marketing and sales department have been transferred as part of the management overhaul process.
Furthermore, Biman’s Country Manager in the UK has been made an officer on special duty (OSD) for his alleged involvement in embezzling Tk 15 crore from sales of tickets.
Two new General Managers have also been posted to the Biman’s Marketing and Sales Department to ensure transparency and accountibility of the national flag carrier’s Marketing and Sales team.
Admitting the matter, Secretary for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md. Mohibul Haque told The New Nation that Biman is the property of state and people own it. The operation of Biman should be made accountable to the people.
“We will do everything to make Biman graft free and profitable,” he added.
The Secretary further said that his ministry is working with a new plan to expand Baman’s fleet and routes to make it a truly commercial organisation.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has earlier identified various sources of irregularities and corruption in Biman.
On March 3, the national anti-graft body submitted reports on corruption at Biman to State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali and recommended action to block the sources of corruption.
ACC identified irregularities and corruptions at Biman’s procurement and lease of aircraft, maintenance and overhaul, ground servicing, cargo import and export, passenger transportation and ticket sale, embezzlement of extra baggage charge and food catering.
On Thursday, the ACC issued a travel ban on sacked Biman managing director Mosaddique Ahmed and nine other officials for investigation into alleged graft in Biman.
“We will not tolerate corruption in Biman anymore. Corrupt officials would be brought under the book,” said Md. Mohibul Haque.
He said the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has already identified Biman’s corrupt officials. They will be shown the door to make Biman graft free.
Bangladesh Biman Corporation was turned into a public limited company in 2007 to operate the national flag carrier commercially in the wake of perennial financial losses.
“But the process is yet to yield any positive result on Biman’s overall operation due to systemic graft within the organisation,” a former director of Biman told The New Nation yesterday asking not to be named.
He said the main problem lies with Biman board, which is run by the non-professional people with no track record in aviation industry. So, the board should be revamped first with professional people to have a proper planning to make the operation of Biman viable.
“A professional Board can help Biman corruption free, rebuild its international reputation, improve service and overcome perennial losses,” he added.
Biman reported Tk 201 crore net losses in the last financial year (2017-18) despite a double-digit growth in passengers and improved revenue earnings.
