Biman strike called off on assurance

Agitating staff of Biman Bangladesh Airlines yesterday called off a 48-hour strike from April 16 after the civil aviation minister assured them of fulfilling their one-point demand.
The decision came following a meeting between Biman Bachao Oikya Parishad and Civil Aviation Minister Faruk Khan at the latter's Secretariat office in the afternoon.
Biman staff announced the strike on April 3 to press home their demand for immediate resignation of the Biman chairman and board members.
“We have called off the strike temporarily, as the minister has assured us that our demand will be met at the earliest,” Biman Officers' Association President Zahirul Haque told The Daily Star.
Seven trade unions of Biman under the banner of Biman Bachao Oikya Parishad have been demonstrating since March 5 to press their one-point demand.
Oikya Parishad leaders allege that the national carrier has incurred a loss of Tk 1,000-crore due to inefficiency of the Biman chairman and the board members.
The government will do whatever is necessary to save Biman, Faruk told journalists after the meeting.
He said the crisis would be resolved after discussing the issue at the highest level of the government.
The Biman chairman and board members have refrained from attending office at Balaka Bhaban since the demonstrations began on March 5.