Biman Bangladesh Airlines
PM Hasina leaves for Geneva to attend World of Work Summit
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday (June 13, 2023) morning to attend the two-day "World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All" to be held in the Swiss city on June 14-15.
A commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the prime minister departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10.01 am. The flight is scheduled to land at Geneva International airport at 5:30 pm local time (9:30 pm Bangladesh Time).
On June 14, UNHCR chief Flippo Grandi will call on the prime minister at the bilateral room of Hotel President Wilson.
Later the PM will call on President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset at Palais de Nations. After the call-on there will be a possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Knowledge and Skills enhancement between Bangladesh and Switzerland.
Read: Work together to sustain national development: PM Hasina tells Awami League members
In the afternoon, the prime minister will address the Plenary of 'World of Work Summit 2023' at Palais de Nations.
On her arrival there, she will be greeted by ADG and Regional Director of ILO.
There will be a red carpet reception and Guard of Honour from the gate to the meeting venue.
She will also have a call on with President of Malta Dr. George Vella.
Read: PM Hasina wants greater cooperation between Bangladesh and Indian armies
In the evening, the PM will attend a dinner with high level dignitaries hosted by the DG ILO at its headquarters.
On June 15, she will attend the 'A talk at the WEF', followed by a meeting with founder of WEF Prof Klaus Schwab at WEF Office.
There, she will address at the event on "New Economy and Society in Smart Bangladesh" organised by the World Economic Forum.
In the evening, WTO DG Dr. Okonjo- Iweala will call on her at Hotel President Wilson. She will also attend a community event in the evening.
Read: Volatile global situation likely to worsen further: PM Hasina tells parliament
Hasina will leave Geneva at 11am on June 16 and she is expected to arrive in Dhaka in the early hours of June 17.
"The World of Work Summit 2023: Social Justice for All" is a high-level forum for global voices to address the need for increased, coordinated and coherent action in support of social justice, according to organisers.
It will provide an opportunity to discuss and inform the proposal to forge a Global Coalition for Social Justice, which was welcomed by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office at its 347th Session.
A number of high-level guests, including former President of France, Francois Hollande, former President of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, and the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, as well as representatives of employers and workers, will address the conference.
Read: President Erdogan and PM Hasina vow to take Dhaka-Ankara ties to new height
51 Bangladeshi expats return home from Sudan via Jeddah
A total of 51 Bangladeshi nationals evacuated from Sudan returned home from Jeddah Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight today (May 11, 2023).
They arrived in Dhaka from Jeddah at 10:20 am via Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG336, according to a press release by Biman.
The Bangladeshi nationals from conflict-ridden Sudan took temporary shelter in Jeddah with the help of the Bangladesh Embassy and Saudi authorities.
Earlier on May 8, Biman Bangladesh Airlines brought back 136 Bangladeshi nationals -- escaping Sudan -- from Jeddah.
Read more: Another 176 Bangladeshis from war-torn Sudan arrive in Jeddah
Meanwhile, another 130 Bangladeshis will return home by Qatar Airlines and 238 by Biman Bangladesh Airlines from Madinah today, according to a press release from the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
Bangladesh is operating four chartered flights from Sudan, at its own cost, to evacuate the remaining Bangladeshi citizens to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Sudan plunged into a civil war last month that has so far claimed the lives of more than 600 people, including civilians, and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Countries around the world are scrambling vessels and airplanes to evacuate their citizens from Sudan.
Read More: Sudan: 25 dead in tribal fighting, as truce talks stall
PM returns home after 15-day foreign visit
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday (May 09, 2023) morning returned home from London after her 15-day official visit to Japan, the US and the UK.
A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the premier, landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:05am. The flight departed Heathrow International Airport, London at 6:25pm on Monday (London Time).
On April 25 last, Hasina left Dhaka for Tokyo on a four-day official visit to Japan on the first leg of her official three-nation visit. She went to Japan at the invitation of her Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio.
During her stay in Tokyo, the Bangladesh PM met Emperor of Japan Naruhito, held summit meeting with her Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio.
Read more: PM leaves London for home, ending 15-day foreign visit
She and her Japanese counterpart witnessed the exchange of eight instruments, mostly memorandums of cooperation signed between Dhaka and Tokyo to boost cooperation in the sectors of agriculture, metro-rail, industrial up-gradation, ship-recycling, customs matters, intellectual property, defense, ICT and cyber security.
She also attended an investment summit and a community reception as well as handed over the “Friends of Liberation War Honour” to two Japanese nationals for their special contribution to the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
Besides, Hasina held meetings separately with Foreign Minister of Japan Yoshimasa Hayashi, President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Dr Tanaka Akihiko, Chairman of Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial & Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC) Fumiya Kokubu, Chairman and CEO of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Ishiguro Norihiko and President of Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League (JBPFL) Taro Aso.
On April 28, the PM left Tokyo for Washington DC on a six-day official visit to the USA on the second leg of her three-nation tour in a bid to attend the celebration of the 50 years of partnership between the World Bank and Bangladesh.
Read More: Blair calls on PM at Claridge's, offers help to attract investment
She attended a seminar titled "Reflection on 50 years of Bangladesh-World Bank Partnership" organized at the headquarters of the World Bank in Washington DC, USA on May 1.
In Washington DC, Sheikh Hasina also had meetings separately with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and President and CEO of US Chamber of Commerce Suzanne P. Clark.
Besides, she attended a high-level executive roundtable with the US business delegation and a community reception.
On May 04, the premier left Washington DC for London on a five-day official visit to the UK to attend the coronation of UK's King Charles III, hosted by Buckingham Palace on May 06.
Read More: Bangladesh's next general election will be fair, PM Hasina tells UK
In London, Hasina had interaction with King Charles III, a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
She also attended the Commonwealth Leaders Event, the King's reception for heads of states, governments and overseas representatives at Buckingham Palace in advance of the coronation of the King and the Queen Consort, and a community reception.
She had a meeting with and Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema there.
Besides, PM Hasina had interactions with Presidents of Egypt and Rwanda, Prime Ministers of Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Gambia, Namibia and Uganda in the coronation programme of King Charles III.
Read More: PM attends coronation of King Charles III
Bangladeshis stranded in Sudan to be brought back via Jeddah: Foreign Ministry
The government has taken measures to bring back Bangladeshi citizens stranded in Sudan, through Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin said that at first the Bangladeshi nationals will be taken to Port Sudan from Khartoum, and from there they will be taken to Jeddah.
Later, they will be brought to Bangladesh by several flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Khartoum has already arranged nine buses to take the Bangladeshi nationals to Port Sudan from Khartoum and adjacent cities and a team from Bangladesh’s Consulate General in Jeddah will reach there to assist them.
All the Bangladeshis, stranded in Sudan, will be taken to Port Sudan by May 2.
Also read: Bangladeshis stuck in Sudan to be repatriated: MoFA
The Bangladeshi nationals are likely to reach Jeddah by May 3 or May 4.
Two Bangladeshi schools in Jeddah are providing food, drink, medicine and temporary accommodation for the Bangladeshi nationals being brought from Sudan.
Earlier, on April 25, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said a decision has been made to evacuate Bangladeshi nationals from Sudan through other countries.
“The Bangladesh Embassy in Khartoum has already started spreading this message among the Bangladeshis living there,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Read More: Heavy clashes rock Sudan’s capital despite truce extension
The state minister urged the Bangladeshi nationals in Sudan to follow the instructions provided by the embassy and complete registration.
Meanwhile, a number of Bangladeshi nationals were evacuated by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.
More than 420 people, including at least 291 civilians, have been killed and over 3,700 wounded since the fighting erupted between Sudanese military and the country’s largest paramilitary force last week, AP reports.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the situation in Sudan a “catastrophic conflagration” that could engulf the whole region.
Read More: Sudan conflict: 187 more people including Bangladeshis evacuated
Biman to use own aircraft for Hajj flights this year
Biman Bangladesh Airlines will use its own aircraft this year for operating Hajj flights instead of leasing planes.
“As we don’t benefit from the leasing process, we have decided to use our own aircraft for Hajj flights,” Shafiul Azim, CEO and managing director of the national flag carrier, told UNB.
Biman authorities discussed the decision at an inter-ministerial meeting on Wednesday.
Read more: Mecca Route Initiative agreement to make Bangladeshi pilgrims' journey easier: Shahriar
“We are preparing in advance to ensure smooth operation of Hajj flights,” the Biman CEO said.
The decision follows the airline’s experience from last year’s Hajj flights. It used four of its widebody planes for last year’s Hajj flights.
Md. Faridul Haq Khan, state minister for religious affairs, told UNB that Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudia Airlines will carry 50 percent of Hajj pilgrims each this year.
Read more: Route to Mecca: MoU signed to make Bangladeshi pilgrims' Saudi visits easier
“According to the Saudi-Bangladesh Hajj Treaty of 2023, Bangladeshi pilgrims can perform Hajj this year as per full quota,” he added.
He also said that Hajj packages will be announced by January 25–30.
In response to a question about package prices, he said prices will not be increased this year.
Read more: Biman launches flights to China’s Guangzhou
“Passengers may have to spend a slightly higher amount for the increased dollar price, however,” he said.
A total of 1,27,198 Bangladeshis can perform Hajj this year.
Faridul Haq Khan also said the age limit has been withdrawn and Bangladeshis over the age of 65 can perform Hajj this year.
Read More: No age limit: 1.27 lakh Bangladeshis can perform Hajj this year, deal signed with Saudi
Pre-arrival immigration for all Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims will be completed in Dhaka under the ‘Road to Makkah’ agreement. However, the Saudi authorities may decide to reduce the permitted number of pilgrims if the Covid-19 situation worsens, he concluded.
“Will take action over allegations of corruption, nepotism in recruiting Biman pilots”
Action will be taken over allegations of corruption and nepotism in recruitment of Biman Bangladesh Airlines pilots, state minister for civil aviation and tourism Md Mahbub Ali warned today (September 6, 2022).
He was speaking at the 'BSRF Dialogue' organised by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat.
The state minister said several newspapers have reported on the allegations regarding the pilots' recruitment.
Read: Biman launches flights to China’s Guangzhou
"It has been investigated by the highest level, through various agencies. We have also investigated the issues through our ministry, and the airline has its own investigation too," the state minister said.
Likely, nine of the initially appointed pilots were selected and were dropped or they did not join, he added.
He said some are currently in simulation training.
Read:ACC approves charges against 3 former, 1 current Biman high-ups
“This is the latest information I have. Reviewing their performance from the training, a final decision will be made on their appointments,” he said.
"We will also take action against those who initially selected them (pilots), following the investigation report," Mahbub added.
Bangladesh Pilot Association (BAPA) also sent a letter to the airlines' managing director on August 28 demanding investigation into irregularities, corruption and nepotism in recruiting pilots.
Read US-Bangla to operate international flights on four routes from Saturday
Regarding the harassment at the tourist center, he said the deputy commissioners (DCs) of Cox's Bazar and other tourist destinations were directed to monitor everything closely. "I asked the magistrate to see the price list."
The state minister also hoped that the newly-built third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will be able to operate from October next year.
At the third terminal, arrangements are being made so that passengers can get transport at all times, he added.
Read US-Bangla resumes Chattogram-Kolkata flights September 1
He also said initiatives have been taken to upgrade Cox's Bazar Airport to an international standard. Besides, aesthetically pleasing and modern terminals have been constructed in Saidpur and Jashore.
"We will also take the initiative to construct an airport in Barishal."
Regarding gold smuggling, the state minister said, "We have instructed airport authorities to check all passengers as soon as they get off flights."
Read US-Bangla to operate two daily flight from Dhaka-Kolkata from August 4
BSRF general secretary Masudul Haque presided over the dialogue chaired by its president Tapan Biswas.
From $700m to $1b turnover target: New MD wants Biman to take off
New Biman Bangladesh Airlines chief has set a target of increasing the national flag carrier's annual turnover to $1 billion from $700 million.
Biman Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Md Zahid Hossain wants to make the airline profitable with business expansion, new strategies, and satisfactory passenger services.
Zahid said this at his first press briefing as Biman chief in Dhaka Thursday.
About Biman's poor customer service, the MD said: "We will do what it takes to establish Biman as a commercial enterprise, and offer satisfactory passenger services."
Regarding the losses that Biman incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, Zahid said the national carrier is now in a better position as many airlines across the world had to shut down during that time.
"Biman transported 22 lakh passengers last year. We hope to carry 30 lakh passengers this year. Around 80 lakh Bangladeshis now live abroad; they want to travel through Biman. We want to serve them," he added.
Read: Bangladesh must ensure strategic balance amid new tensions: BIPSS president
About Biman's Toronto flights, the MD said the carrier will calculate the profits and losses once the travel season is over. "We've found access to North America via Toronto. If this flight becomes successful, we'll be able to enter the US market."
Regarding corruption allegations in Biman's pilot recruitment, Zahid said the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating the claims of irregularities and they will extend their full support to the anti-corruption watchdog.
Before joining as the MD and CEO of Biman on July 13, Additional Secretary Zahid served as the director (administration and human resources) of the national flag carrier.
Biman gets new MD
Zahid Hossain, director (additional secretary) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, has been appointed as its managing director.
The Public Administration Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Wednesday.
Read: Three Biman officials suspended over plane collision incident
Meanwhile, immediate past Biman MD Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal has been made Director General (DG) of Social Welfare department.
Besides, Rangpur Divisional Commissioner (Addl Secretary) Md Abdul Wahab Bhuiyan has been made DG of Narcotics Control Department, reads the notification.
Biman's first dedicated Hajj flight from Sylhet leaves for Jeddah
The first dedicated Hajj flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines from Sylhet left Osmani International Airport Tuesday morning.
The flight BG-3131 with 419 pilgrims on board departed the airport at 10:00 am and is scheduled to reach Jeddah at 01:30 pm (local time), said a Biman press release.
Read:2,415 more Bangladeshis can perform Hajj this year
A total of 60,000 people are going to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia(KSA) from Bangladesh to perform the hajj this year. Among them, 50 percent of the total hajj pilgrims will be transported by Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ 67 dedicated flights including two from Sylhet.
First hajj flight leaves Dhaka with 410 pilgrims
The first hajj flight from Bangladesh has left the country around 9:00am on Sunday.
The flight operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines was carrying 410 hajj pilgrims and was about to reach Jeddah around 12:45pm today.
State Minister for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali MP, State Minister for the Ministry of Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan MP, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Sazzadul Hasan, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mokammel Hossain, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Air Vice Marshall Md Mafidur Rahman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Dr Abu Saleh Mostofa Kamal and other officials were present at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport(HSIA) and bid farewell to the hajj performers.
Also read: First hajj flight from Bangladesh to leave Sunday
A total of 57,585 people are going to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia(KSA) from Bangladesh to perform hajj this year. Among them, a total of 28,793 hajj pilgrims, which is almost 50 percent of the total hajj pilgrims, will be transported by Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ flights.
Biman will operate a total of 130 flights carrying hajj pilgrims this year, among which 65 flights will be operated between June 5-July 3 as pre-hajj flights and another 65 flights will be operated between July 14- August 13 as post-hajj flights.
Also read: Hajj cost goes up by Tk 59,000
The Hajj Programme-2022 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last Friday.