Dhaka: A parliamentary body on February 13 slammed Biman's top management for causing BDT 1000 crore damage to the interiors of eight of its aircraft while transporting cargo since March 2020.

Many seats, entertainment systems, interior decor, toilets, floors, and overhead locker of four new Boeing 777-300ERs, two Boeing 737s and two leased aircraft are heavily damaged as Biman used the planes meant for carrying passengers to fly on seats when air travel plunged amid the pandemic.

"It is not acceptable," a member of the parliamentary standing committee on civil aviation ministry said after the meeting, according to reports.

In an effort to make a profit of nearly several crores of taka, Biman’s top management caused damages of hundreds of crores of taka to the aircraft, the committee added.

"We came to know through media reports that the damages will cost Biman about BDT 1,000 crore to fix -- we also wanted to know whether any syndicate was involved in this process," claimed another committee member, cited reports.

Subsequently, the committee has asked the MD and CEO of Biman Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal to furnish details of the incidents in the next meeting to be held within a month.

Moreover, reports claimed an internal committee has been formed to investigate the matter.

In the meantime, Biman incurred a loss of about BDT 2,200 crore over lease of two Boeing 777 aircraft taken from Egypt in 2014 through a "non-transparent agreement".

Leased from Egypt Air in 2014 for five years with stringent conditions that went against Biman's interests, the extended range planes remained grounded since 2017 due to engine defects, said the parliamentary body at the meeting on February 13.

In 2019, Biman got rid of the two leased Boeing 777-200ERs.

A sub-committee of the parliamentary body came up with the findings and found involvement of then top officials of Biman in the lease process, reports mentioned. Afterwards, the committee sent all its findings to the Anti-Corruption Commission for taking action against the responsible persons following an investigation.