Biman's problem lies not in name but somewhere else
Monday, 25 June 2007
Shamsul Huq Zahid
The government with a view to helping the national airliner get back its lost image (?), reportedly, along with other initiatives has decided to drop the word, 'Biman' from its name. After the promulgation of a new ordinance-- the draft of which has already been approved by the council of advisers-it would be made a public limited company to be known as Bangladesh Airlines.
In addition to changing its name, the government has initiated the process of downsizing Biman's manpower which has been disproportionate to its relatively small fleet of aircraft. But in doing so, the authorities are now facing a peculiar situation.
The Biman has 4700 officials and employees on its payroll. Under a plan to downsize its manpower strength by about 1200, its management sought application from officials and employees willing to accept golden handshake (voluntary retirement scheme). The Biman management had not been that hopeful about receiving any enthusiastic response to the scheme. But, to their utter surprise, the response has been overwhelming; more than 2100 officials and employees have applied for voluntary retirement within the stipulated time. The unexpected level of response has put the Biman management in real difficulty. On the one hand the government is unlikely to provide enough funds to meet the retirement benefits to all those who have opted to avail themselves of the scheme, many efficient and competent officials and technical hands have sought to go on voluntary retirement on the other.
The Biman management, thus, has decided not to accept applications from efficient officials and employees and also those from the officials against whom there are charges of corruption and irregularities. However, it remains to be seen how Biman management can stop efficient officials and employees from going on voluntary retirement.
Besides, there are allegations against the management that it is trying to force some Biman employees to go on 'voluntary' retirement. According to a media report, a list of 139 officials and employees belonging to the flight service wing was put on display at the notice board asking them to go on voluntary (?) retirement or else they would be retrenched later without the benefits being offered under the VRS. However, according to a news report, none from the Biman management has claimed the responsibility of putting the list on the notice board.
The adviser in-charge of civil aviation late last week revealed the government plan to entrust the responsibility of managing the Biman with some foreign airliner. Without elaborating, the adviser said the transfer of responsibility would take place after transforming Biman into a plc.
Many tend to believe that the government move to salvage Biman has come too late. The government might find it hard to tackle the problems that have accumulated over time due to deliberate indifference on the part of successive governments in the past.
The Biman in its lifetime never had a management having the necessary expertise in running an airliner. Nor anyone ever bothered to install one. Rather influential people in the government wanted to have inefficient people at the helm of Biman affairs so that they can make irregular incomes at the cost of the national airliner.
The irregularities in Biman, particularly those relating to recruitments, procurement, trade unionism etc., are considered unparallel in the history of any other airline. The Biman has on its payroll four employees for doing a job that can well be attended by a single employee. Because of the highhandedness of trade unions-nobody knows for sure their actual number-a large number of officials and employees used to receive their salaries along with overtime bills without doing any work.
While irregularities have brought Biman on the verge of ruination, many experienced and efficient pilots and engineers took jobs in other airliners, particularly those from the Middle Eastern countries, as the Biman management was unable to pay salaries and allowances equivalent to that offered by other airliners. Many more are reportedly on their way to join other airlines. It appears that Biman would soon be forced to employ foreign pilots and engineers to run its fleet which is getting smaller with the passage of time.
The move to corporatise Biman is a right one. But mere change of its name or corporatisation would bear no fruit unless and until a professional and efficient management is put at the helm of the national airliner. In addition, there should be serious efforts to raise its fleet strength and improve the quality of service. In the past there had been outside interference in the matters of procurement of aircraft. Such a practice needs to be stopped at any cost.
There is no denying that Biman's world, in keeping with its attractive slogan, has become smaller. It has stopped flying to a number of destinations in Asia, Europe and the USA. But on a priority basis, the Biman has to improve its frequency and services in routes in the Middle Eastern countries where thousands of Bangladeshis are employed.
The Biman along with some other airlines originating from the ME countries have formed a syndicate to exact higher rate of fares from Bangladeshi workers traveling in these routes. One can well find out the fact if one compares the fares on other international routes on the basis of distance. If not others, at least Biman should to be sympathetic to the Bangladeshi workers who toil hard in an unfriendly environment to sustain their families and remit a handsome amount in foreign currency back home.
According to the government plan, the Biman or the Bangladesh Airlines initially would continue to be owned by the government even after its corporatisation. But after some improvement in its financial health, a part of its stake would be offered to the members of the public. There should be no reason for general investors to put their money in Biman's coffer if they find it a viable organization, both financially and operationally.
The government with a view to helping the national airliner get back its lost image (?), reportedly, along with other initiatives has decided to drop the word, 'Biman' from its name. After the promulgation of a new ordinance-- the draft of which has already been approved by the council of advisers-it would be made a public limited company to be known as Bangladesh Airlines.
In addition to changing its name, the government has initiated the process of downsizing Biman's manpower which has been disproportionate to its relatively small fleet of aircraft. But in doing so, the authorities are now facing a peculiar situation.
The Biman has 4700 officials and employees on its payroll. Under a plan to downsize its manpower strength by about 1200, its management sought application from officials and employees willing to accept golden handshake (voluntary retirement scheme). The Biman management had not been that hopeful about receiving any enthusiastic response to the scheme. But, to their utter surprise, the response has been overwhelming; more than 2100 officials and employees have applied for voluntary retirement within the stipulated time. The unexpected level of response has put the Biman management in real difficulty. On the one hand the government is unlikely to provide enough funds to meet the retirement benefits to all those who have opted to avail themselves of the scheme, many efficient and competent officials and technical hands have sought to go on voluntary retirement on the other.
The Biman management, thus, has decided not to accept applications from efficient officials and employees and also those from the officials against whom there are charges of corruption and irregularities. However, it remains to be seen how Biman management can stop efficient officials and employees from going on voluntary retirement.
Besides, there are allegations against the management that it is trying to force some Biman employees to go on 'voluntary' retirement. According to a media report, a list of 139 officials and employees belonging to the flight service wing was put on display at the notice board asking them to go on voluntary (?) retirement or else they would be retrenched later without the benefits being offered under the VRS. However, according to a news report, none from the Biman management has claimed the responsibility of putting the list on the notice board.
The adviser in-charge of civil aviation late last week revealed the government plan to entrust the responsibility of managing the Biman with some foreign airliner. Without elaborating, the adviser said the transfer of responsibility would take place after transforming Biman into a plc.
Many tend to believe that the government move to salvage Biman has come too late. The government might find it hard to tackle the problems that have accumulated over time due to deliberate indifference on the part of successive governments in the past.
The Biman in its lifetime never had a management having the necessary expertise in running an airliner. Nor anyone ever bothered to install one. Rather influential people in the government wanted to have inefficient people at the helm of Biman affairs so that they can make irregular incomes at the cost of the national airliner.
The irregularities in Biman, particularly those relating to recruitments, procurement, trade unionism etc., are considered unparallel in the history of any other airline. The Biman has on its payroll four employees for doing a job that can well be attended by a single employee. Because of the highhandedness of trade unions-nobody knows for sure their actual number-a large number of officials and employees used to receive their salaries along with overtime bills without doing any work.
While irregularities have brought Biman on the verge of ruination, many experienced and efficient pilots and engineers took jobs in other airliners, particularly those from the Middle Eastern countries, as the Biman management was unable to pay salaries and allowances equivalent to that offered by other airliners. Many more are reportedly on their way to join other airlines. It appears that Biman would soon be forced to employ foreign pilots and engineers to run its fleet which is getting smaller with the passage of time.
The move to corporatise Biman is a right one. But mere change of its name or corporatisation would bear no fruit unless and until a professional and efficient management is put at the helm of the national airliner. In addition, there should be serious efforts to raise its fleet strength and improve the quality of service. In the past there had been outside interference in the matters of procurement of aircraft. Such a practice needs to be stopped at any cost.
There is no denying that Biman's world, in keeping with its attractive slogan, has become smaller. It has stopped flying to a number of destinations in Asia, Europe and the USA. But on a priority basis, the Biman has to improve its frequency and services in routes in the Middle Eastern countries where thousands of Bangladeshis are employed.
The Biman along with some other airlines originating from the ME countries have formed a syndicate to exact higher rate of fares from Bangladeshi workers traveling in these routes. One can well find out the fact if one compares the fares on other international routes on the basis of distance. If not others, at least Biman should to be sympathetic to the Bangladeshi workers who toil hard in an unfriendly environment to sustain their families and remit a handsome amount in foreign currency back home.
According to the government plan, the Biman or the Bangladesh Airlines initially would continue to be owned by the government even after its corporatisation. But after some improvement in its financial health, a part of its stake would be offered to the members of the public. There should be no reason for general investors to put their money in Biman's coffer if they find it a viable organization, both financially and operationally.