Staff Reporter :
The government of Bangladesh has been losing Tk 1100 crore by taking lease of a defective aircraft.
The information has been revealed by an investigation done by Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism’s Parliamentary standing committee.
The investigation said that in a deal Biman Bangladesh Airlines took lease of two Boeing 777-200 model aircraft from Egypt Air for five years.
After one year service, in 2015, February, the aircraft engine was found wrong. Later to continue the service, Biman Bangladesh Airlines rented an engine from Egypt and it had also defect. Then the authority sent it to United States of America (USA) for repair.
In these process Biman Bangladesh Airlines paid Tk 1100 crore to Egypt air and USA’s repair company in five years.
Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism’s Parliamentary standing committee recommended the case to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for more investigation and to take action by law.
After taking decision to continue the investigation over the issue, the ACC has formed two members investigation team. The two members are ACC’s Deputy Director Salahuddin and Assistant Director Jeshmin Akhter.
The investigation team has sent a letter to Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited Managing Director & CEO Dr. Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal seeking allegation related 13 types’ documents as lease tender papers.
When contracted to discuss over the issue with ACC Deputy Director Salahuddin, he expressed unwillingness to talk with media.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited Managing Director & CEO Dr. Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal’s office said that he was busy with another meeting.
Seeking anonymity an ACC high official said that sub-committee No. 1 of the parliamentary standing committee had submitted a report on the irregularities and corruption in the process of leasing Egyptian aircraft. The report submitted recommended sending the matter to the ACC for further investigation. Accordingly, an investigation team has been formed as per the decision of the commission. So, far I know, the team has started their activities.
