Biman fires Senior Pilot Captain Mahbub
Dhaka: Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the flag carrier of the country, has sacked Senior Pilot Captain Mahbubur Rahman, according to reports. Captain Mahbubur was also the President of Bangladesh Airlines Pilots' Association (BAPA).
The dismissal letter, signed by the Biman Managing Director and CEO Dr Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal, was sent to him on November 30, said reports which further claimed, Biman Managing Director and CEO Dr Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal ordered the dismissal of Captain Mahbub as per the power of Article 59 (b) of the Association of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
Reports claimed, the former Biman pilot’s termination follows an ongoing dispute among pilots and the airline authority over wages and allowances.
On October 25, Biman Bangladesh pilots dissatisfied with wages and allowances decided to stop working hours in excess of the terms of their contracts, which led to delays on several international flights and difficulties for passengers.
The authorities met with pilots several times to discuss the issue. Rahman had represented the pilots at the time.
On November 20, Biman Chairman Sajjadul Hassan said at the airline’s 50th anniversary event that the Prime Minister had ordered an inquiry into who was responsible for the recent Biman schedule debacle.
Those who delay or disrupt Biman service will be held responsible, Md Mahbub Ali, the State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, said at the same event.
Then, at a Biman board meeting on November 24, the airline’s Managing Director and CEO was tasked with ‘decisively removing, terminating, and taking departmental action’ on those who ‘hindered’ the operation of the airline.
On November 29, Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal signed the order terminating Captain Mahbubur Rahman.
