Menon laments his ministry has no control over Biman

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon has said in the Jatiya Sangsad that his ministry has the responsibility and is accountable for making Biman Bangladesh Airlines profitable although it has no effective control over the organisation. Making the claim while taking part in the general discussion on the proposed budget for 2014-15 fiscal, Menon advocated for establishing the ministry’s effective role on Biman Bangladesh Airlines which is now run by the Board of Directors. ‘The (Civil Aviation) Ministry has the responsibility and is accountable to make the Biman profitable, but it has no effective control. The place to work in the Biman is very narrow,’ Menon said. He mentioned that the Biman inducted big aircrafts in its fleet, but did not include small aircrafts to restart the domestic routes. The Civil Aviation Minister said: ‘We could not implement the pledge of the Prime Minister to resume operation the Dhaka-New York route.’ About upgrading the schedule of Biman flights, he said people now feel encouraged to travel on Biman. Menon said the rigid attitude of the Biman Board regarding the operation of the national flag carrier is the main obstacle. ‘Effective role of the Ministry (of Civil Aviation & Tourism) is needed for the progress of the Biman,’ he told the House, according to a news agency.