Mokabbir Hossain, additional secretary to civil aviation and tourism ministry, has been appointed the managing director and chief executive officer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

The public administration ministry issued a notice in this regard yesterday. Mokabbir confirmed The Daily Star about his new appointment.

The board of directors came up with the decision following a meeting chaired by its Chairman Air Marshal (retd) Muhammad Enamul Bari.

In March this year, Biman circulated a recruitment notice looking for candidates for the posts of CEO and MD. An experience of 20 years in the aviation sector was required.

Around 70 applicants, including 12 foreigners, applied for the job, 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 the previous CEO, AM Mosaddique Ahmed, was relieved on charges of corruption.

According to Biman insiders, Abdul Momen was the last bureaucrat who served as Biman MD and CEO nine years ago. Since then, airline officials have held the post.

Sources said the government opted to appoint a bureaucrat from the respective ministry due to civil aviation ministry’s recent drive against widespread corruption in Biman, including taking lease of aircraft and illegal commission business in selling of ticket.