Biman - on deathbed

It is seriously sick and has been diagnosed as suffering from a disease known as corruption.

It's in the news all over the world, especially in Internet editions of many international news publications. It has been reported that Biman has lost Tk. 836 crore in the last 10 months. The total loss for the fiscal year is anybody's guess. It owes Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation more than Tk.1,200 crore. It owes money all around the world. Hotels, Suppliers, Maintenance Vendors, Ground handling agencies, governments (for over flying charges), you name it. It's just a matter of time before Biman pulls the curtain down!

Why has Biman ended up in this mess? Here are some facts and interesting figures :

1. Biman has more than 500 employees per aircraft as against industry average of 150.

2. More than 100 Biman employees ( from different sections ) are engaged in UNION duties as office bearers ( some of them claim overtime as well ) ! That is more than 10 persons per aircraft!

3. Outstations ( On-line / Off-line ) - Every On line ( where Biman Operates) station has employees posted from many sections like Sales, Finance, Operations, Traffic & Field Service. Bulk of the services can be outsourced!

4. Unions / Associations - They are all engaged in protecting employees' rights! None of them ever heard of corruption! No movement against corruption!

5. Routes - they are all designed to serve politicians / administrators & crew. Business was never an option. Having ONE flight a week to Tokyo is a proof of that! There are plenty of it! New York flight beats them all. More than ONE CRORE is lost per cycle. It's needed because near and dear ones of people with power are frequent flyers on this route. The trick - They all fly free! The people of the country paying for this! So why not! All of a sudden Biman pilots have opened their eyes! They now think the New York flight is not required!

6. Qualifications - The Pilot's Association (BAPA) complained to the civil aviation minister that CAAB

(Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh) examiners are charging hefty amounts of money (Bribe!!) to issue professional licences. And they are paying too! It's the same for Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.

7. Management -- The less said about it, the better.

8. Corruption - Where do we start! It's infected top to bottom!

It's everywhere! Probably the bulk is milked through Engineering Maintenance. The bill is millions of dollars every month! Aircraft has to fly, so spares have to be bought ! Buy it urgent and bill it five times!

It's not only common, it is the norm. There are instances where 10 times more was paid and it was discovered that wrong spare had been bought!

Bogus parts trading are widely reported. Engineering Stores has been taken away from Engineering years back to play these games. Cuts are shared from every deal! Aircraft leasing, Engine Leasing, Maintenance Contracts & Spares supplies! All at inflated rates! Almost all deals are scooped up by people very close to the seat of power.

Corruption in Marketing & Sales Division has reached an art form. Managers of this section sucked Biman dry in collusion with GSAs and travel agents.

Biman is no symbol of pride anymore. Biman is bleeding our hard earned resources. It is holding our financial institutions hostage single-handed. Sonali Bank & BPC are on the verge of collapse because of non-payment of huge debts of Biman. It's simply not on"