‘Biman now profitable, thanks to govt initiatives’

Biman Bangladesh Airlines – the national flag carrier – is now a profitable organization, thanks to the efforts and various initiatives taken by the government.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali made the remark while addressing a Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters’ Forum (BSRF) dialogue on Tuesday, adding that Biman pays the salaries and allowances of its officials and employees from its own earnings.

BSRF President Tapan Biswas presided over the programme – held at the Media Center of Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka. The organisation’s General Secretary Masudul Hoque moderated the event.

BSRF Vice President Motaher Hossain spoke at the event among many others.

In response to a query regarding allegations of irregularities in recruiting nine pilots for the Biman, the state minister said, “The allegations are being investigated. These pilots are now in training, and they will return soon.

“In the meantime, the investigation would also be completed. If any irregularities are found, necessary actions will be taken. They will be dismissed if any irregularities are found in the recruiting process.”

Mahbub Ali informed that the Biman had taken Tk 1,000 crore as government incentive with soft interest during the Covid-19 crisis. Within a year of taking the money, Biman has paid the entire sum back to the government with interests using profits.

He added, “There is a perception that the Biman officials and employees get their salaries and allowances from the government. So, we failed to run the state-owned authority properly. This perception is not correct.

Mahbub continued, “The global markets are now unstable. Fuel and oil prices have gone up. Amid this situation, we received a positive response from the Dhaka-Toronto bound passengers and we got passengers to fill all seats.

“We want to run the Biman the right way. The flights of Biman are now departing at the right time. Those getting involved in irregularities will face legal action.”

He hoped that the sufferings of the passengers will lessen after the international standard third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka starts operation in October, 2023.

Mahbub also mentioned that the government has launched initiatives and measures to develop the airports, cargo villages and runways across the country to ensure proper services for the passengers from home and abroad.

Regarding development in the tourism sector, Mahbub Ali said the sector had faced huge losses during the pandemic crisis. After lifting of the restrictions introduced amid the Covid crisis, the sector has started making profits again.

In the first three months, the sector made around Tk 6 crore in profits.