Summons to those involved in the charter of Egyptian aircraft

 Summons to those involved in the charter of Egyptian aircraft

By leasing two Boeing (6-200) aircraft from Egypt, Biman has incurred a loss of Tk 1,171 crore in seven years. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has summoned those involved in leasing the two aircraft.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the parliamentary committee held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday, the Parliament Secretariat said in a statement.

According to the relevant sources, an agreement was reached on March 11, 2014, to lease two aircraft from Egypt Air. The then minister, secretary, managing director (MD) of Bangladesh Biman, members of the board of directors and Captain Ishrat, who were involved in chartering the two planes, were asked to attend yesterday's meeting of the parliamentary committee. Two officials concerned were present at yesterday's meeting. Although there was some discussion in yesterday's meeting, there will be a detailed discussion in the next meeting. The parliamentary committee has recommended that those involved in chartering aircraft be present at the next meeting of the parliamentary committee.

According to a meeting of the parliamentary committee, the Ministry of Civil Aviation gave an account of the revenue, expenditure and profit, and loss of the two aircraft in yesterday's meeting. It shows that from the fiscal year 2013-2014 to November 2019, the revenue from those two aircraft was Tk 2,329 crore. Bangladesh Biman has spent Tk 3,490 crore on those two aircraft. That means a total loss of Tk 1,171 crore. During this period there was no profit in any year. For almost two years, there has been no revenue from these two aircraft, on the contrary, they have cost 256 crore rupees. In 2019, two aircraft were returned.

Biman sources said Biman had leased two aircraft on a five-year contract. Of these, one was added to the fleet in March 2014 and another in May. There was an agreement with EgyptAir, whether to transport passengers or not, to pay 5 lakh 75 thousand dollars (46 million rupees) per aircraft per month. All types of maintenance costs must be borne. At the end of the lease period, the two aircraft will have to be returned to their previous condition. But a year later, in 2015, an engine of an airplane broke down. The aircraft was then rented from EgyptAir for  10,000 per month. The damaged engine was sent abroad for repair. Before it could be repaired, another engine broke down. Another engine was rented for 10 thousand dollars a month.

State Minister for Civil Aviation Mahbub Ali told Prothom Alo that he had taken action on the incident soon after taking charge. The then MD has been sacked. Action has been taken against a few more. Two planes have been returned. The parliamentary committee is also investigating the incident.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md. Mahbub Ali, Tanvir Imam, Ashok Ullah Rafiq, Anwar Hossain Khan, Sheikh Tanmoy, Syeda Rubina Akter, and Kaniz Fatema Ahmed took part.