Biman draws flak over BD passengers’ ordeal in Rome

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is facing mounting criticism over the alleged unequal treatment of passengers stranded for nearly 40 hours at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, with Bangladeshi travellers reportedly left in airport lounges and terminal areas while passengers holding Canadian and US passports were accommodated in hotels.

Flight BG-306, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, finally landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around 12:30pm on Sunday (August 9), bringing an end to the ordeal of 259 passengers.

The flight had departed Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada on Thursday afternoon and made a technical stop at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport after about eight hours of flying. A technical malfunction was detected during the stopover, preventing the aircraft from continuing its journey to Dhaka.

Passengers said they remained inside the aircraft for around eight hours while repeated attempts were made to resolve the problem. With many elderly people, children and passengers with health concerns on board, the prolonged confinement reportedly caused considerable distress, with several passengers becoming sick.

After passengers were eventually allowed to leave the aircraft, however, another controversy emerged over their accommodation.


The allegations have raised questions about whether Bangladeshi passengers-many of whom were travelling on their own national carrier-were treated as second-class travellers during the crisis.

Mohammad Abu Sayed, a senior lecturer in Computer Science at Independent University, Bangladesh, who was among those waiting at the lounge, said passengers had already endured hours inside the aircraft before being moved to the airport. He said many elderly people, children and sick passengers were on board and several fell ill during the prolonged wait.

Dr Md Ziaur Rahman, a teacher at the University of Dhaka's Music Department, also described the situation as extremely difficult, saying passengers had to spend hours inside the airport, with some sleeping on chairs and floors.

Passengers further complained about delays in receiving food and difficulties accessing medicines and other essential belongings stored in checked baggage. Some elderly and diabetic passengers reportedly struggled to obtain necessary medicines and insulin, while children also suffered from the prolonged disruption.

Former Bangladesh cricketer Syed Halim Shah and his son, national footballer Syed Kazem Shah, were also on the flight. Halim said passengers had spent several hours inside the aircraft amid the high temperatures in Rome.

Biman, however, said the accommodation arrangements were determined by Italian immigration regulations. According to the airline, passengers holding Canadian and European passports were able to leave the airport and stay in hotels, while Bangladeshi and Nepali passengers without the necessary visas had to remain within the airport premises.

The explanation may account for the legal restrictions, but it does not fully address passengers' concerns over whether adequate and equitable care was provided to those who were unable to leave the airport. 

The reported shortage of lounge space, difficulties in obtaining medicines and the place of passengers sleeping on floors have intensified criticism of Biman's crisis-management and passenger-care standards.

To repair the aircraft, Biman sent an engineering team from Dhaka with necessary spare parts and equipment. After the technical fault was repaired and the aircraft was declared fit to fly, BG-306 departed Rome for Dhaka at around 11pm local time on Saturday.

Biman said passenger safety remained its top priority and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the unexpected technical failure. The airline also said it provided food, water and other necessary assistance within the limits imposed by local immigration regulations.

The safe arrival of the aircraft brought the ordeal to an end, but the episode has left a larger question for Biman: when Bangladeshi passengers are travelling on Bangladesh's national flag carrier, should they ever feel that their nationality makes them less entitled to comfort, dignity and proper care during a crisis?

The incident is likely to fuel calls for Biman to review its emergency passenger-management procedures and ensure that nationality or passport status does not translate into unequal standards of care, particularly when vulnerable passengers-including children, elderly travellers and those requiring medication-are involved.