‘No more hide-and-seek in Biman’

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will ensure transparency in all its activities from now on, and there will be no “hide and seek” in the national carrier, newly-appointed managing director and chief executive officer Mokabbir Hossain said yesterday.

Mokabbir, additional secretary to civil aviation and tourism ministry, was appointed the MD and CEO of Biman on September 12.

Speaking at a press conference at Biman’s Balaka Bhaban headquarter, Mokabbir also said his first challenge will be to take the national airliner forward fulfilling its objectives.

“I have no personal agenda in Biman. I will try my best so that Biman can make profits, ensuring safety of passengers, maintaining schedule and improving service quality,” the new Biman MD and CEO said at his maiden briefing to reporters.

In March, 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. Some 70 applicants, including 12 foreigners, applied for the job, Biman sources said.

But the board of directors at a meeting earlier this month decided not to appoint any of the applicants.

Capt Farhat Hassan Jamil 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.

Sources said the government entrusted a bureaucrat from the respective ministry to take the helm of the flag carrier, as it was happy with the civil aviation ministry’s recent drives against widespread corruption in Biman, including taking lease of aircraft and illegal commission business in ticket selling.

Talking to reporters, the new Biman MD said safety, schedule and quality service are the three main issues based on which a passenger chooses to fly with an airline.

“Our aircraft fleet is modern now. We have been able to improve service quality gradually following inclusion of new generation aircraft in the Biman fleet. But still there are some limitations. Our efforts to further improve our service is going on,” Mokabbir said.

He said no one in Biman is above the law. “I didn’t do anything violating law in my service career, and I will not do anything like that in future.”