Due to the efforts and various initiatives taken by the government, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national flag carrier, is now a profitable organisation. It continued to making profit during the period of Covid-19 pandemic. The salaries and allowances of its officials and employees are being given from its own income.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md. Mahbub Ali on Tuesday made the remark while addressing a discussion organised by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters’ Forum (BSRF) at the Media Centre of Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka.
BSRF President Tapan Bishwas presided over the programme and its General Secretary Masudul Hoque moderated. Among others, BSRF Vice President Motaher Hossain also spoke the event.
In response to a query regarding allegations of irregularities in recruiting nine pilots for the Biman, the junior minister said, “The allegations are being investigated. The trainee pilots are now in training. They will return soon. In the meantime, the investigation would also be completed. If any irregularity is found, necessary actions will be taken. They must be dismissed from the jobs, if there is any irregularity.”
Mahbub Ali informed that the Biman had taken Tk1,000 as government incentive during the Covid-19 pandemic period with soft interest. Within a year of taking the money, Biman has paid the money back with interests from its profits.
“There is a perception that the Biman officials and employees get their salaries and allowances from the government. The perception is not correct. The employees are paid form their own earnings and they are to bear expenses from their own earnings,” he claimed.
The government doesn’t have any budget for Biman and its employees. If they cannot earn, the employees will not get their salaries and benefits, he added.
The state minister claimed, “The giant airliners across the globe incurred loss during the Covid-19 pandemic. The tourism sector has faced massive disaster. But, we had worked relentlessly. We tried to communicate with the foreign embassies so that Biman can survive operating cargo flights. We continued earning and Biman was in the trend of profit during the period.”
He hoped that sufferings of the passengers will come down extensively after the international standard third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka starts operation in October, 2023.
