Pilot hiring scam: Biman finally launches probe

Biman Bangladesh Airlines yesterday formed a three-member committee to investigate the allegations of irregularities in hiring Boeing 777 pilots and paying them hefty salaries.

Captain Siddiqur Rahman, director of flight operations at Biman, was made the convener of the committee while Capt Enam Talukder, chief of flight safety, was made member, and Taposh Ahmed, deputy chief of training, was made member-secretary.

The probe body was asked to submit its report within three working days.

It will also investigate the alleged forgery of HSC certificate by Sadia Ahmed, a first officer of Boeing 777.

Sadia is the wife of Biman Chief of Training Capt Sazid Ahmed.

The state flag carrier formed the probe body in response to a report run by The Daily Star on March 1 under the headline "Biman paying for hiring unqualified Boeing 777 pilots".

According to the report, Biman in February last year recruited a batch of contractual pilots to fly its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, claiming that it needed pilots immediately due to a shortage.

A year later, only five of the batch of 14 pilots, have taken to the air. The rest are lost in a quagmire of forged certificates, incompetence and failed licensing exams.