May we have second thoughts on Biman?
Saturday, 4 August 2007
Government decision to contract out the operational responsibility of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited to a foreign operator may remind one about the League of Nations mandate after the World War-1 and the United Nations trusteeship after the World War-II. Under those arrangements, former colonies of the vanquished nations were placed under the control of some victor powers or their protégée nations to prepare them for the ultimate independence.
Our national flag carrier, which would fly to foreign destinations under the supervision of a foreign operator, will internationally create an impression that we Bangladeshis are poor in management. If the local private GMG airline can successfully run under the management of Bangladeshis, why should we suspect that locals wouldn't be able to manage Biman properly?
Biman's new board of directors comprising some secretaries and its managing director will definitely succeed in running the airline profitably provided they are given the choice of running it on the basis of management by objective, with accountability only for non-fulfillment of set targets and guaranteed protection against possible manipulations by unruly trade unions. They should have no obligation to respond to allegations inspired by backbiting and to explain actions taken in good faith. We bet under such an arrangement they would manage the airline impressively successfully.
Shamsuddin Ahmed
Dhaka University
Our national flag carrier, which would fly to foreign destinations under the supervision of a foreign operator, will internationally create an impression that we Bangladeshis are poor in management. If the local private GMG airline can successfully run under the management of Bangladeshis, why should we suspect that locals wouldn't be able to manage Biman properly?
Biman's new board of directors comprising some secretaries and its managing director will definitely succeed in running the airline profitably provided they are given the choice of running it on the basis of management by objective, with accountability only for non-fulfillment of set targets and guaranteed protection against possible manipulations by unruly trade unions. They should have no obligation to respond to allegations inspired by backbiting and to explain actions taken in good faith. We bet under such an arrangement they would manage the airline impressively successfully.
Shamsuddin Ahmed
Dhaka University