Could Biman lose right to fly to Saudi Arabia?

Biman could lose its right to fly to Saudi Arabia for failing to operate with one general sales agent in the kingdom.

Planes of the carrier fly to four destinations in Saudi Arabia 18 times a week, earning a substantial amount in ticket sales.

The Bangladesh ambassador to the kingdom termed the situation "horrifying" and blamed Biman for it.

Biman insiders said the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia could suspend Biman flights anytime for noncompliance.

The GACA had earlier set a January-1 deadline for Biman to start operating with one general sales agent, instead of two.

The Bangladesh embassy in Saudi Arabia stepped in and successfully lobbied to get the deadline extended by a week. The civil aviation ministry of Bangladesh then moved to convince the Saudi authorities to extend the deadline further, promising to resolve the issue "soon".

Biman appointed a new general sales agent on January 1 but it failed to function properly due to complications over arrear settlements with previous agents and other issues, like transferring the iqama (work permit) of Biman employees.

Earlier this month, the GACA informed Biman top officials that the carrier won't be able to operate any flights to the kingdom from February 7 for failing to ensure a single general sales agent from January, said Biman insiders.

Biman then turned to Bangladesh ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohammad Javed Patwary to convince the GACA to allow Biman another week, the sources added.

Patwary said he observed serious mismanagement in Biman.

In a letter to M Mahbub Ali, the state minister for civil aviation in Bangladesh, Patwary said Biman management could not respond properly to GACA's repeated reminders.

"Biman is well aware of the problem of moving from one GSA [general sales agent] to another. They should have had good planning. [But] In the absence of this practice, Biman officials in the foreign country are in an embarrassing situation," the ambassador wrote.

Terming the situation "horrifying", the ambassador said, "Biman officials go to the embassy with various issues and ask for the embassy's help at the eleventh hour when little can be done."

Contacted on February 24, Patwary said, "We are working to find a way out."

Biman Managing Director and CEO Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal said the company had two general sales agents for operating flights to and from Dammam, Medina, Jeddah, and Riyadh.

"We have appointed Elaf Travel and Tourism Company as the new GSA on January 1 following the GACA instructions," said Abu Saleh.

He said they could not complete other related work, including settling arrears of the previous general sales agents and transferring iqama of Biman employees.

"We have sought time from the GACA to complete all these tasks," said the Biman MD.

The necessary work will be done very soon, he said.

Over 6,000 people, mostly migrant workers, leave Dhaka for the gulf country every week flying Biman.