“This is not right that all types of flights of Bangladesh Biman have become risky due to mismanagement. But there’re some irregularities, and various measures have been taken to prevent those,” he said.
He came up with the remarks while replying to a query from ruling Awami League MP Faridul Haque Khan (Jamalpur-2).
Mahbub Ali said Biman’s revenue has increased as the authorities have scrapped the seat-blocking system in ticket purchase.
He said massive changes have been brought to ensure transparency in recruitment system of the national airliner.
The state minister said Biman has also introduced electronic ticketing system at all of its offices at home and abroad.
He also said Biman has improved luggage-handling management at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Mahbub Ali said earlier it took around three hours to get a luggage at the airport. “But now luggage distribution starts within 18 minutes after an aircraft lands and it takes around 60 minutes to complete the distribution of the luggage.”
Meanwhile, Law Minister Anisul Huq, who is in charge of Defence Ministry in Parliament, informed the House that a process is underway to procure a number of aircraft, copters and hardware for modernising the Air Force and making it more dynamic and time-befitting one.
He said they have taken steps to procure 16 multirole combat aircraft, eight attack helicopters, three VVIP helicopters, two air defence radar units, 24 primary trainer aircraft, two light aircraft, one K-8W Sim, four MRAP vehicles, one AW-119 Sim, 2 counter drone Surv Radar System and one mobile ATC tower and Life ext & Upgradation of Mig-29 aircraft.
Replying to a query from AL MP Mohibur Rahman Manik, the minister also said the government has already procured 15 Mine Resistance Ambush Protected (MRAP) with jammers to protect Bangladeshi peacekeepers deployed in UN Peacekeeping missions from explosives attacks.
He also informed the House that the government has signed a deal with the USA to procure 50 more MRAP with jammers.