On June 5, Biman Bangladesh Airlines offered the VRS in order to trim its staff to 3,400 by axing about 1,500 current employees.

The scheme is part of the government plan to turn the national flag carrier into a public limited company (PLC) and therefore to make it a healthy and profitable commercial venture.

While Biman managing director (MD) Dr MA Momen expressed satisfaction over the number of respondents to the VRS so far, some Biman high officials termed the response 'poor.'

"If the VRS does not get the desired response, the Biman authorities may think alternative steps to axe officials and employees," they said. They, however, did not elaborate.

Many Biman officials and staff said that they would take some more days to decide about responding to VRS.

The VRS offer ends on June 20.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has finalised Memorandum of Association (rules and regulations of Biman), Articles of Association (terms and conditions) and ordinance, under which Bangladesh Biman Corporation would turn into Bangladesh Airlines Limited, sources said.

The proposal has been placed before the chief adviser, sources said.