All Biman promotions on hold over corruption allegations
A probe committee will be formed to investigate alleged irregularities in engineering division
ATT Correspondent 
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has suspended all promotion activities at Biman Bangladesh Airlines following allegations of irregularities, corruption and administrative misconduct in the national flag carrier’s engineering division.
The decision was communicated in a letter signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Sharmin Akter on 3 August. According to the ministry, a probe committee will be formed to investigate the allegations, and all recently approved promotion processes will remain suspended until the investigation report is submitted.
Officials at the ministry said the action followed a formal complaint filed by an engineer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
The complaint alleges that an influential group within the engineering division has long manipulated promotions and administrative processes through irregular practices. It also claims that 15 approved posts were withdrawn from a key department to facilitate a new promotion proposal in violation of existing rules. A meeting regarding the matter was reportedly held on 28 June.
The complaint further alleges that reducing the number of personnel approved under the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh’s (CAAB) Part-145 regulations could jeopardise aircraft maintenance standards, aviation safety and compliance with international requirements.
It also claims that a syndicate attempted to promote several junior employees recruited in late 2022 to Group-6 positions through irregular means. The complaint alleges that around Tk3.1 million was exchanged illegally during the process.
Additional allegations include delaying the promotion files of eight qualified engineers, withholding licence allowances, bypassing mandatory interviews, promoting junior officials over senior staff, creating artificial vacancies through transfers, paying technical allowances to employees not performing technical duties, irregular appointments on a contractual basis and favouritism in recruitment.
The complaint also refers to salary payments for non-existent posts in the organisational structure and alleged irregular promotions in the printing and publications division.
Biman officials confirmed that they had received the ministry’s directive and said the matter is now under investigation.The ministry said a detailed inquiry would be conducted, and all promotion-related activities at Biman Bangladesh Airlines would remain suspended until the investigation is completed. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the probe.
