Biman to go tough on errant crew
The Biman Board last night decided that any cabin crew bringing in goods worth $300 or more would be handed over to police.
The decision came in the wake of the arrest of three Biman officials for alleged involvement in smuggling gold.
The board also decided to interrogate the general manager (security) of Biman to know why he allowed Mahmudul Haque Palash, who claimed to be the godson of Biman chairman, to enter and roam around the Biman offices freely interfering in the internal affairs of the national flag carrier.
The board held an urgent meeting at its Balaka Bhaban headquarters with Biman Chairman Air Marshal (retd) Jamal Uddin Ahmed in the chair yesterday.
In a 12-hour raid at Shahjalal International Airport, Uttara and Bashundhara last week, detectives arrested five members of a smuggling racket -- three Biman officials, Palash and an owner of a money exchange firm.
After yesterday's meeting, Khan Mosharraf Hossain, general manager (public relations) of Biman, told The Daily Star that Biman authorities have always been cooperating with law enforcement agencies.
About the reported corruption in recruitment of cabin crew, Mosharraf said such media reports were “false and fabricated”.
He also trashed media reports that 34 Biman officials went into hiding after the arrest of the three Biman officials. “None of the reported Biman officials went into hiding,” he said.
Following widespread allegations that flight and crew schedule were used for facilitating gold smuggling, the authorities yesterday decided to introduce automated scheduling system from November 30, he said.
Yesterday's meeting also discussed media reports on the retirement age of the pilots being extended to 60 years from 57, reportedly to keep arrestee Capt Abu Mohammad Aslam Shaheed in service.
However, the authorities at the meeting said the present leadership of Bangladesh Airlines Pilots' Association (Bapa) had appealed to Biman management to extend the service age.
Following the appeal, Biman asked Bapa to pay Tk 30 lakh as Biman had to spend the amount to fight a case filed by some Bapa members regarding the issue.
Biman extended the age limit on October 9 this year after receiving the compensation.
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