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Biman sacks its pilot association president Captain Mahbub

Published : Wednesday, 1 December, 2021 at 7:30 PM  Count : 1355

Captain Mahbubur Rahman

Captain Mahbubur Rahman


Captain Mahbubur Rahman, president of the Bangladesh Airlines Pilots Association (BAPA), has been sacked from his job as a pilot amid an ongoing dispute between the Biman Bangladesh Airlines and pilots over salaries and allowances.

He was sacked from his post through a letter signed by Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal, managing director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, on November 29.
"We did not terminate any president, we terminated a Biman captain," the Biman MD said.

Captain Mahbub, pilot of a Biman Boeing 787 airplane, declined  to comment on the matter.

However, Biman's pilots said the authorities could show-cause or suspend Captain Mahbub if he did anything wrong. Terminating a pilot in such a manner is unlawful. As per the labour law, a president of an organisation cannot be terminated in such a manner, they said.

On Oct 25, Biman's pilots being dissatisfied with wages and allowances decided to stop working hours in excess of the terms of their contracts, which led to delays on several international flights and difficulties for passengers.

The authorities met with pilots several times to resolve the issue. Captain Mahbub had represented the pilots at the time.

On November 20, Biman chairman Sajjadul Hassan said at an event that the prime minister had ordered an inquiry into who was responsible for the recent Biman schedule debacle.

Those who delay or disrupt Biman services will be held responsible, said State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali at the same event.

At the 265th Biman board meeting on November 28, charges of hindering the operation of the airline were brought against Captain Mahbub. The meeting authorised the Biman's MD to 'decisively removing, terminating, and taking departmental action' against those who 'hindered' the operation of the airline.

On November 29, Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal signed the order terminating Captain Mahbub.

In the termination letter, he was also asked to receive all his dues from the authorities concerned.

Following the emergence of Covid-19 pandemic in the country last year, the Biman authorities started slashing the salaries of pilots along with other officials to reduce the operating cost of the national flag carrier in May. In an order, issued in July, the airlines decided to deduct 10 per cent of the salary of those who were in the pay scale from 6th to 8th grades and 15 per cent for those who were above the 9th grade. It created strong resentment among the pilots. The Biman authorities gave assurance that their salaries would be adjusted from August.

Capt Mahbub said the salary of a senior pilot has been reduced to Tk 5 lakh a month due to the discriminatory decision.

He said the salaries of other Biman officials have been adjusted in the last three months, but no action has been taken yet to adjust pilot's salaries.

Biman, the national flag carrier, now operates flights on 17 international routes every day.

SZA








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