Photo : Collected
The officials and employees of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, commonly known as Biman, are reportedly frustrated with a syndicate allegedly associated with Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh. Despite Taposh's position as DSCC mayor, sources claim that a group of five influential individuals has gained significant control within Biman, allegedly due to his behind-the-scenes influence.
This syndicate of five controlled recruitment, transfers, promotions, and purchases. In the last 10 years, this syndicate has embezzled over thousands of crores of taka from Biman. One of the key leaders of the syndicate is Biman's Deputy General Manager (Legal Affairs), Rashed Meher Chowdhury. The others are Anwarul Haque, General Manager of IT Department, Tareq Alamgir, General Manager of Project and Construction Department, Niranjan Roy, General Manager of Corporate and Quality Department, and Nazmul Huda Lebu, former Principal of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Training Centre (BATC). On Thursday, Biman's officials and employees publicly protested against these five individuals.
Meanwhile, after the fall of the Awami League government and Sheikh Hasina's departure from the country, many senior officials of Biman have not returned to the office. It is known that they are in hiding for fear of facing public anger from the employees.
According to relevant sources, Rashed Meher Chowdhury would use Barrister Taposh's power to align with the Admin officers who came to Biman on deputation. This syndicate controlled all of Biman's recruitment, postings, promotions. No such file would move without Barrister Taposh's signal. The syndicate controlled everything from buying Biman's flights to all purchases. In nearly 10 years, the syndicate has made business of thousands of crores of taka through recruitment, purchases, promotions, and posting trades.
Despite being a permanent employee of Biman, Rashed Meher Chowdhury has harassed and even terminated Biman's employees. He was irregularly promoted to the position of Manager (Legal Affairs) without any formal interview. After getting this responsibility, he spread rumors and used Barrister Taposh's power to play a key role in removing Azra Nasrin Rahman, Deputy General Manager of the Legal Department, from her job. For the same reason, despite having qualifications, Mominul Islam of Biman's Procurement and Logistic Support was terminated. Later, when he approached the High Court, the High Court ordered the reinstatement of this talented officer. Rashed Meher Chowdhury delayed implementing the High Court's verdict as well. At one point, helplessly, Mominul Islam was made Director of Logistics and Procurement. However, he was qualified for an even higher position. Moreover, Rashed Meher Chowdhury didn't allow many employees' jobs to become permanent. Even after 10 to 12 years of service, they remain on a daily attendance basis.
Nazmul, a victim in Biman, said, “I went to court in protest of my unfair termination. Later, when I came to get my job back as per the court's ruling, I was harassed in various ways. Then money was demanded from me. Because I didn't give money, I haven't gotten the job till today. Along with me, 6 to 7 more people were terminated. Later, they were given jobs after taking a huge amount of money from them.”
He alleges that Rashed Meher Chowdhury and their syndicate have looted the entire Biman, adding, “We will now resist them.”
There are allegations that this syndicate has essentially maintained influence over the entire Biman. They would carry out the tasks of the Admin cadre. And Barrister Taposh played a role behind the scenes. Recently, just before the fall of the Awami League government, Barrister Taposh left the country. Rashed Meher Chowdhury provided all kinds of assistance from Biman to help him escape.
Essentially, due to their inhuman oppression, Biman's officials and employees have become enraged after the fall of the Awami government. To escape their wrath, Biman's MD Zahidul Islam and other cadre officers have fled. Last Thursday, there was a massive protest at Biman.
The protesters demanded the resignation of officers who came on deputation from various ministries, including the Managing Director (MD), and the withdrawal of DGM Md. Rashed Meher Chowdhury from the Legal Affairs Department. They also demanded permanent employment for nearly 3,000 temporary workers.
The demands of the protesters include eliminating existing discrimination, immediately making temporary workers permanent, providing pensions to two-thirds of Biman employees who are gratuity holders, returning the money deducted during the Corona period, removing corrupt officials, and removing officers who came on deputation.
During the protest, they confined Biman's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Md. Nawshad Hossain and DGM of Legal Affairs Department Md. Rashed Meher Chowdhury. Faced with anger, they were eventually forced to flee and leave the office.
A group of agitated employees said, “Biman's CFO has been engaging in irregularities and corruption in Biman for a long time. “He had become very reckless due to the influence of the Awami League. Now they no longer have the right to stay in Biman. We will not allow him to work in the office.”
Messenger/Fameema
