Graft in Plane Lease: Biman takes action against two officials
Decides to go for fresh appointment process
The board of Biman Bangladesh Airlines has decided to cancel its contract with one of its official and suspended another in connection with corruption and irregularities while leasing two aircraft from EgyptAir.
The airlines ended its contract with Group Capt Sazzadur Rahim (retd), director of engineering and material management, and suspended Ghazi Mahmud Iqbal, chief engineer of engineering services.
The board of directors came up with the decision following a meeting headed by its Chairman Air Marshal (retd) Muhammad Enamul Bari at the Biman headquarters on Tuesday, meeting sources said.
“The national carrier made a non-transparent agreement with the EgyptAir in 2014 for taking two Boeing 777-200ER on lease which went against the interest of Biman,” a top official of civil aviation ministry told this newspaper.
According to the lease agreement, Biman would have to pay Tk 10 crore to EgyptAir per month for each of the aircraft even if they were not in service.
Both of the airliners went out of service months after their lease and remained stranded at a Vietnam airport since then.
In July this year, Biman sent back one of the aircraft.
BIMAN FAILS TO PICK NEW CEO
The Biman board has decided to float fresh recruitment circular for the position of its CEO and MD as the board of the national airlines failed to pick any from the applicants.
The board of directors came up with the decision following a meeting headed by its Chairman Air Marshal (retd) Muhammad Enamul Bari on Tuesday, meeting sources said.
Earlier in March this year, Biman circulated a recruitment notice looking for candidates for the posts of CEO and MD, and Deputy Managing Director.
An experience of 20 years in the aviation sector was required to apply for the post of the CEO and MD.
Around 70 applicants, including 12 foreigners, applied for the post of CEO and MD, Biman sources said.
Capt Farhat Hassan Jamil, who previously served as the director of flight operations in Biman, was made the acting CEO and MD of the airlines in April this year after its then CEO AM Mosaddique Ahmed was relieved on charges of alleged corruption.