A parliamentary committee has directed Biman Bangladesh Airlines to resolve audit objections involving Tk753.5 crore, identify those responsible for irregularities and fix accountability for the misuse of public funds.
The committee has also sought a list of former board members and procurement committee officials involved in the purchase of two 15-year-old Dash 8 aircraft after their lease agreements expired.
The directives came at a review meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Tuesday.
The meeting was chaired by committee chairman and Chief Whip of Parliament Nurul Islam Moni.
The committee reviewed various audit objections involving Biman, irregularities in aircraft procurement and operations, weaknesses in reservation and passenger service systems, revenue collection discrepancies and financial losses from operating unprofitable routes.
The purchase of two 15-year-old Dash 8 aircraft after the expiry of their lease agreements came under scrutiny, as Biman's procurement policy does not allow the purchase of old aircraft.
The meeting also discussed the subsequent financial losses arising from the aircraft's operating costs and related expenses.
The committee asked Biman to submit, within 15 days to one month, a list of the then board members and procurement committee officials involved in the decision. It also directed the authorities to determine responsibility for the misuse of public funds and take legal action against those found responsible.
The meeting was also informed of substantial revenue losses caused by weaknesses in Biman's Departure Control System and Rapid software.
An audit found that passengers on international flights were upgraded from economy to business class in exchange for additional payments, but the extra revenue was not deposited into Biman's accounts.
To identify such irregularities and revenue leakages, the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has launched a comprehensive information technology audit of Biman.
The airline has been instructed to provide auditors with all relevant data and records from July to October.
The audit also found that operating various routes without proper commercial feasibility assessments, based on decisions by the board, had resulted in financial losses.
The committee asked Biman to submit relevant board meeting records and detailed reports on the income and expenditure of each route.
The meeting stressed the need to ensure financial discipline at Biman, resolve audit objections promptly, recover outstanding revenue and hold those involved in irregularities and corruption accountable.
The Comptroller and Auditor General, the secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, the managing director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and other senior officials concerned attended the meeting.