"178 Biman officials punished, suspended in the course of a year"  

The national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines has either punished, suspended or removed from their jobs at least 178 officials and employees on various grounds in the last year.

Biman's Managing Director and CEO Dr Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal revealed the information today during a view exchange meeting at Bangladesh Airlines' Training Centre in Kurmitola.

Of the 178 Biman employees, 13 were suspended for their alleged involvement in gold smuggling, said the Biman MD.

Other than this, 52 officials and employees were suspended on various grounds and three lost their jobs, added the Biman boss.

Five Biman officials including the airline's principal engineer and three other engineers were suspended for their involvement in damaging two Boeing aircraft on April 10.

A senior captain, cockpit crew and a cabin crew were also suspended for negligence in carrying out duties, sources in Biman said.

The Biman MD said two Biman officials were downgraded from their post, 15 employees had their salaries curtailed and strict warning was issued against 36 on different grounds.

Between January 1 to December 31 last year, a total of 202 departmental cases were filed over various issues, Dr Abu Saleh said.

The view exchange meeting was organised to inform journalists about different activities of the national airliner.