The parliamentary standing committee on public undertakings has sought reasons for the repeated mechanical faults in the aircraft carrying the Prime Minister. Discussions also took place regarding identifying accountability for irregularities in the procurement of aircraft and equipment by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, as well as potential revenue losses due to weaknesses in its IT system.
These matters were discussed on Monday (November 2) at the sixth meeting of the Committee on Public Undertakings of the Thirteenth National Parliament, held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The meeting was presided over by the committee chairman and Chief Whip of the National Parliament, Nurul Islam Moni.
The financial management, operational activities, and audit reports of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), both under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, were reviewed during the meeting. Committee members emphasized increasing transparency and efficiency in the activities of these two institutions, preventing wastage of public funds, eradicating irregularities, and settling long-standing audit objections.
During the meeting, detailed information was sought on the total amount recovered against audit objections, the outstanding amount, and the number of individuals against whom disciplinary action has been taken. Emphasis was also placed on presenting a time-bound action plan, along with supporting evidence, for each audit objection.
The committee recommended that Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the relevant authorities take necessary measures to present a detailed written explanation and required information on the raised issues at the next meeting.
Committee members and whips Mia Nuruddin Ahammed Apu, Md. Akhtruzzaman Mia, Khondaker Abu Ashfaq, Mohammad Kayser Ahmed, Biswas Jahangir Alam, Mohammad Nazibur Rahman, and Mohammad Kamal Hossain participated in the meeting.
Additionally, the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGA), Additional Comptroller General of Accounts, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, relevant officials from the Ministry and Parliament Secretariat, and senior officials from the Civil Aviation Authority and Biman Bangladesh Airlines were also present.
