The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has decided to confiscate and auction off 12 airplanes parked at Dhaka airport.
These planes have been occupying a large part of the cargo village at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) for years, disrupting the loading and unloading operations of goods.
They will be sold over the failure of their owning companies to ensure proper registration and repayment of loans, said CAAB officials.
Of the aircraft to be sold, eight are owned by United Airways, two by Regent Airways and one each by GMG and Avina.
United, Regent, and GMG collectively owe some Tk1,000 crore to CAAB in different unpaid charges.
Of the total sum, United owes Tk311.17 crore, GMG Tk368.29 crore and Regent Tk283.38 crore.
Officials are, however, still calculating how much Avina owes CAAB.
CAAB has formed a four-member committee, led by HSIA Executive Director Group Captain AHM Touhid-ul Ahsan, to finalize the process through which the abandoned aircraft will be confiscated and then sold.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, the Dhaka airport executive director said: “We have held discussions with some of the stakeholders in this regard. We came up with some recommendations following the meetings.
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“But things are yet to be finalized.”
Another member of the committee, seeking anonymity, said that if CAAB was unable to auction off the aircraft, it will tear them down and then sell them.
“We will sell the planes in Dholaikhal – a well-known marketplace for second-hand automobile spare parts and accessories in Dhaka,” he said.
CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman had said that the companies concerned had been informed multiple times to clear due payments and take their aircraft elsewhere.
“We gave them multiple warnings. But we didn’t get any response. This is why we have decided to confiscate the planes and auction them off.”
Officials hoped that with the removal of the abandoned airplanes, Dhaka airport’s cargo village will regain its real estate and this will allow them to earn revenues from.
When contacted, United Airways Director Kazi Wahidul Alam said: “CAAB and we had a meeting regarding this matter in April.
“We are hopeful that they [CAAB] will consider our interest.”
Meanwhile, the other three airways – Regent, GMG and Avina – are yet to decide their next course of action.
Earlier, CAAB had filed two cases against United and Regent Airways over outstanding bills. The cases are now pending in court.
