Biman Bangladesh Airlines sacks two staff over aircraft wheels ‘theft’

Investigation begins after 10 aircraft wheels go missing from the airline’s hangar

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has dismissed two employees for handing over aircraft wheels to an official of a private airline without authorisation.

The two -- Arman Hossain, Material Management supervisor, and Samsul Haq, store helper -- were formally notified of their termination on Thursday.

Separate letters from Biman’s administration and human resources department informed them of the dismissal.

The letters, identical in tone, said: “By the authority given under section 52 of the Bangladesh Biman Corporation Employees Regulations, your employment is hereby terminated with immediate effect. In accordance with the said section, you are being provided one month’s salary in lieu of notice.

“Any lawful dues (if applicable) will be settled by the finance department.”

ABM Roushan Kabir, general manager of Biman’s public relations department, said: “Action has been taken against them following due procedure.”

“When the wheels were being moved, security personnel spotted them, so they could not be taken away,” he added.

Earlier, allegations emerged that the two employees had handed over 10 used wheels from Biman aircraft to Shafiqul Islam, an assistant general manager of US-Bangla Airlines.

A general diary (GD) was filed over the incident.

On Monday, Biman’s Assistant Manager (Security) Mosharref Hossain lodged the GD with Airport Police Station.

Officials of the state-run carrier confirmed that an investigation has begun.

The police report did not classify the incident as “theft”. It recorded that on the evening of Aug 16 (Saturday), 10 “unserviceable tyres” of Biman aircraft were found missing from the auction shed beside the hangar complex at Shahjalal International Airport.

It added that after questioning, Arman and Samsul admitted to giving the wheels to Shafiqul for use, without notifying the authorities.

This allegation has surfaced amid growing concern over Biman's maintenance standards after at least eight technical faults with its Boeing aircraft in the past month -- some involving tyre bursts -- resulting in cancelled flights and delays.