The New Nation - Internet Edition

SYED ZAHIRUL ABEDIN

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been facing great difficulties to charter flights from international aviation sources. Though the Biman authorities have invited international tenders repeatedly, no airlines or aircraft businessmen responded to the Biman's tenders. Such a situation has occurred due to bad reputation of Biman in business dealings with different international airlines in the aviation sector. Failing to charter aircraft from international aviation sources, Biman is now facing great troubles in maintaining its schedules.

Biman signed an agreement with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing for procurement of 10 new generation aircraft along with option/purchase right for another 10.

But, according to the agreement signed with Boeing, Biman will not receive any aircraft before 2013. So, Biman will have to rely on chartered aircraft till that time to maintain its schedules. But, the crisis has aggravated further after Biman has failed to procure any aircraft from international sources.

On the other hand, Biman did not receive adequate responses to its advertisement for appointing the chief executive officer (CEO).

In order to charter two Boeing-737s, Biman has recently floated two international tenders. But only one company submitted bid each time. Now the Biman authorities are thinking an alternative.

Earlier, Biman also did not receive expected responses floating international tenders to charter aircraft. Inviting tenders for several times, Biman finally succeeded to charter two Boeing 747s.

Sources at the Biman told The New Nation that Biman authorities were thinking alternative in the context of lack of interest shown by different aviation companies. They have taken an initiative to charter aircraft directly from Boeing floating an international tender.

An official of Biman said the process of chartering aircraft is very complex and lengthy. It usually takes long time. It is necessary to make the process easier.

Meanwhile, only two foreign nationals applied for the post of CEO of Biman. However, none from any international airlines or any aviation expert applied for the post.

Those who applied for the post of CEO among local nationals include Biman's former managing director Col (Retd) Mahmudur Rahman, deputy managing director Lt Col (Retd) Zainul Abedin, and Islamil Chowdhury Jafran, who once served as Biman's country manager in Kuwait and Oman.

Besides, Biman's former DGM Nazmun Nahar Robin applied for the post. Robin served as Biman's country manager in New York.

It is learnt that the selected applicants will be called in for interview within this month after scrutinizing their applications and CVs. Members of the Biman's management will take the interviews.

Some 2,000 officials and employees of Biman were retrenched through voluntary retirement service after Biman was transformed into a public limited company in July 2007.

After the retrenchment of so many officials and employees, Biman was supposed to be run by the persons who have vast experiences in aviation business. During the retrenchment, Biman's former staff were told that the retrenchment was done to modernizing the fleet. But the Biman's modernization still remains a far cry. In order to free the Biman from bureaucrat-dependent administration, these experts were supposed to be appointed by the government. However, no progress has been achieved in this regard at all. Bureaucrats still control all the affairs of Biman. The post of CEO of Biman is still being held by the government's joint secretary Dr MA Momen.

Biman has Air Service Agreements with 42 countries, but maintains flights to only 18 at present.