The outgoing civil aviation and tourism minister has warned his replacement that the problems of state-run Biman may eclipse any potential achievements while the new minister has vowed to turn Biman into a profitable outfit in nine months.
Rashed Khan Menon in an address during his handover of the post on Thursday said, “One of your comments is receiving a lot of attention on the television. It is true that Biman is in crisis. Most of the insults directed at you will be on this topic. I will say this in front of Biman’s MD – whatever we achieve is eaten up by Biman’s shadow.”
Menon also addressed the various critics he had faced during his tenure at civil aviation.
He was relieved of his duty at the civil aviation and tourism ministry during the cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday and transferred to the ministry of social welfare. The Workers Party chairman had been at the post for four years.
He said, “The day before yesterday we were discussing various civil aviation matters and the subject of Biman was raised. Both sides had much to say and I listened.”
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed was the most critical, prompting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to say ‘why don’t you take over?’, to which Tofail apologised and said he would not, according to Menon.
“You will face difficulties due to Biman, such as three-hour luggage delays,” he told the new minister. “But I will say this – since this board was assembled the first piece of luggage was put on the conveyer belt 20 minutes after landing and the last was put on the belt within 85 minutes.”
Menon maintained, “In some countries they have to walk through immigration for half an hour. But here they can go through immigration immediately after disembarking from the plane and go to collect their luggage. They forget it takes half an hour to walk through immigration in other countries. They just say ‘my luggage has been delayed’.”
Meanwhile, new Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shajahan Kamal has held his hope high that flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines will turn into a profitable organisation.
He said, “With a new strategy, hard work and dedication, I will turn Biman into a profitable outfit in nine months. It may emerge as a profitable outfit in Asia.”
When asked what measures were needed to turn the state carrier profitable, he said, “It is not a difficult task. I have worked with the Founder of the Nation. Now I am working with his daughter.
The lawmaker from Lakshmipur said he would turn fire into water referring to comments like “being assigned for civil aviation is like being thrown into fire”.
He also told reporters that his daughter tied the knot with Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed’s son.
Tofail refused to accept the prime minister’s offer to take over the civil aviation ministry three days ago, according to Kamal.
“He met me at my place on Wednesday and said words of encouragement,” he said.
With a wide grin, the new minister said, “Many are saying I have been thrown into fire. But this is like water for me. The water we drink to survive. I am optimistic. I seek your cooperation.”
Bdnews24 said the first hit the flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines took under Menon’s stewardship was in March 2016, when the UK stopped all direct cargo flights from the Dhaka airport citing security issues.
According to Biman’s chairman, the bar on cargo has deeply dented the airlines' profits.
In November the same year, the Biman aircraft carrying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her entourage to Budapest was forced to make an emergency landing in the Turkmenistan capital Ashgabat.
The incident sent ripples across the country with calls for Menon to resign for failing to ensure security for the prime minister.
“I am aware of the criticisms targeting Biman but I will quell them all,” Kamal said.
He spoke high of left-leaning politician Menon who was transferred to the social welfare ministry on Wednesday.
“He systematically headed this ministry for four years. I took lessons from his speeches,” said Kamal. “He is like my brother and a progressive leader. He never did politics for money. I have known him since my college days.”