ACC sues Biman ex-Director 22 others for irregularities

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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Monday filed a case against former Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ishrat Ahmed and 22 others for their alleged involvement in irregularities that caused loss of Tk 1,161 core for the national flag carrier.

ACC Deputy Director Jasmin Akter filed the case with ACC’s Dhaka-1 Integrated Office, its Secretary Mahbub Hossain told a press conference.

According to the case statement, Biman opened a tender to lease B777 aircraft on September 11, 2013.

Four bidders: Jesco Aviation of the USA, Euro Atlantic of Portugal, Standard Chartered of London and Egypt Air Holding Company of Egypt participated in the bidding.

The complainant said that Egypt Air was considered as the lowest bidder, followed by Standard Chartered of London.

Egypt Air's aircraft engines were very old and weak and its spare parts were not easily available, whereas Standard Chartered aircraft engines were in better condition.

Since Standard Chartered, a world-renowned company, was the immediate lowest bidder, there was an opportunity for negotiations, reads the case statement.

Besides, Standard Chartered aircraft was in operation with Singapore Airlines, while Egypt Air’s aircraft had been lying idle for around seven months.

'Despite this fact, Biman Bangladesh Airlines decided to lease two aircrafts from Egypt Air Holding Company,' the statement added.

In the primary inspection, led by Captain Ishrat, some maintenance works on

both the leased aircraft were found to be pending rendering them both inoperable as per the rules.

'The inspection team did not mention the pending maintenance works in the

report,' the complainant said, adding that there was an oil leak in the engines.

According to the terms and conditions of the tender, the aircraft engine should

have at least 4,000 cycles remaining.

But, out of the two leased aircraft, one (of MSN 32629) had 3,615 cycles and

another (of MSN 32630) had 2,100.  - Special Correspondent