Air Commodore Zakiul Islam new Biman chief
Sunday, 7 June 2009
FE Report
Biman board has selected Air Commodore Zakiul Islam as the next chief executive officer of the state-owned carrier, an official said Saturday.
Zaki, an ex-assistant air chief and a former engineering head of Biman, is chosen over two other candidates by the board's recruitment committee headed by its chairman Air Marshall Jamal Uddin Ahmed.
The board would make a formal announcement on Sunday, the official said, adding air commodore Zaki would take over some time later this month.
"Among the three, we found him the best. His selection was unanimous. We think he can spearhead Biman to a new era of challenges and opportunities," he said.
His selection comes after a three-month intense search for the head of one of the country's largest state-owned enterprises, which claimed to have made net profit last financial year.
Biman board had initially launched a search for a foreign boss, but found no overseas interest in the job.
Zaki, along with two former Biman senior officials were short-listed for the second round of interview. He was chosen for his track record in engineering and in the air force.
Once appointed, he will face an immediate challenge to secure funding for the purchase of ten new Boeing Aircraft, as the carrier plans to modernise its fleet.
Biman badly needs state guarantee for the purchase, despite opposition from the multilateral agencies such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The carrier also needs to lease new aircraft as part of its plan to retire age-old and fuel-guzzling DC-10 planes and spread wings to newer destinations.
Biman board has selected Air Commodore Zakiul Islam as the next chief executive officer of the state-owned carrier, an official said Saturday.
Zaki, an ex-assistant air chief and a former engineering head of Biman, is chosen over two other candidates by the board's recruitment committee headed by its chairman Air Marshall Jamal Uddin Ahmed.
The board would make a formal announcement on Sunday, the official said, adding air commodore Zaki would take over some time later this month.
"Among the three, we found him the best. His selection was unanimous. We think he can spearhead Biman to a new era of challenges and opportunities," he said.
His selection comes after a three-month intense search for the head of one of the country's largest state-owned enterprises, which claimed to have made net profit last financial year.
Biman board had initially launched a search for a foreign boss, but found no overseas interest in the job.
Zaki, along with two former Biman senior officials were short-listed for the second round of interview. He was chosen for his track record in engineering and in the air force.
Once appointed, he will face an immediate challenge to secure funding for the purchase of ten new Boeing Aircraft, as the carrier plans to modernise its fleet.
Biman badly needs state guarantee for the purchase, despite opposition from the multilateral agencies such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The carrier also needs to lease new aircraft as part of its plan to retire age-old and fuel-guzzling DC-10 planes and spread wings to newer destinations.