Photo : Collected
Amid the ongoing unrest following the fall of the Awami League government and the formation of the interim government, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has experienced significant upheaval. The positions of Chairman, Secretary, and Managing Director (MD) at the national flag carrier have all been vacated, creating a leadership vacuum. These key roles were emptied on Thursday when the MD was designated as Special Duty (OSD), leaving the organization in disarray.
The interim government's sweeping changes have extended to Biman Bangladesh Airlines, reflecting the broader wave of transitions. The MD, Zahidul Islam Bhuiyan, who had been appointed on May 27, 2024, is now on special duty. Additionally, the government has canceled several contractual appointments, including that of Mokammel Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, whose contract was terminated. Hossain had been appointed on December 27, 2022.
The new interim government also dissolved the airline's board of directors, which led to the cancellation of Biman Chairman Mustafa Kamal Uddin’s appointment. Consequently, all three critical positions within the airline have become vacant within a short span of time.
As of now, no replacements have been appointed to these crucial roles, and with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism under the control of the chief adviser, the timeline for these appointments remains uncertain. This situation has further fueled unrest among the remaining officials and has contributed to ongoing dissatisfaction among the protesters, who had anticipated administrative action that has yet to materialize.
On Thursday, the announcement of Zahidul Islam Bhuiyan’s reassignment to Special Duty (OSD) at Biman Bangladesh Airlines sparked unrest among officials and employees. The news of a complete overhaul in the airline’s management has contributed to a sense of panic within the organization.
Several unnamed officials reported that while some operations continue, many essential tasks require directives from higher authorities, which remain unaddressed. There is ongoing speculation about the stability and future of those currently holding positions.
Bosra Islam, General Manager of Biman's Public Relations Department, told The Daily Messenger that despite the absence of appointed officials, the airline’s activities have not entirely ceased. Senior officers are still managing their respective sections.
Meanwhile, general employees of Biman Bangladesh Airlines have been protesting against various grievances, including demands for permanent employment, inclusion in the pension scheme, reimbursement of money deducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, awarding ground handling to Biman, and the removal of bureaucrats from key positions. One of their key demands, the removal of DGM Legal Rashed Meher Chowdhury, was partially addressed when Chowdhury was transferred from his position on Wednesday. Additionally, Shakil Meraj was appointed Director of Corporate & Planning, Ashraful Alam was promoted to Director of Marketing and Sales, and Al Masud Khan was transferred from Public Relations to Legal.
An administrative order was supposed to address other demands and was signed by the Director of Administration on Thursday morning. However, by the time it reached the MD for signing, he had been reassigned to OSD, causing the order to remain unsigned. This delay has led to heightened frustration among the workers, who feel their demands remain unmet.
Several protesting officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that despite raising their demands during the previous government, their concerns were consistently ignored by senior officials. They reported experiencing harassment and neglect, which has led to increased frustration and the current unrest.
As the management transition unfolds, they have presented their demands, which have seen some acceptance. However, the recent decision to reassign the MD to Special Duty (OSD) has caused their issues to remain unresolved.
The officials argue that Biman Bangladesh Airlines has qualified internal candidates who could effectively step into the MD role. They are calling for the immediate appointment of a new MD to address their demands. They have warned that failure to act promptly could lead to further agitation and protests.
Messenger/Fameema
