High-profile Biman board formed

A widely represented high-profile board for Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been formed by the new government seeking to rid the national-flag carrier of entrenched management flaws.

Rumee A. Hossain, who is a sponsor director of Bank Asia and chairman of its executive committee, has been appointed the board chairman.

The announcement was made through a notification issued Saturday by the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry.

                Rumee A. Hossain

Rumee assumes the responsibility at a time when the position of chairman had remained vacant for a considerable period following the resignation of past interim government adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin.

The entire board recast comes "amid efforts to strengthen governance and improve the performance of the national- flag carrier", sources say.

On the newly constituted board are senior government officials, military representatives, business leaders and policy experts.

Among them are Finance Division Secretary Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Majumdar, Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Secretary Fahmida Akhter, Air Vice- Marshal Javed Tanveer Khan, Major-General Md. Hasan Uz Zaman, BNP International Affairs Secretary Barrister Nasir Uddin Ahmed Asim, Chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Bangladesh Dr M. Masrur Reaz, Chairman of United Commercial Bank Sharif Zahir, Vice-Chairman of DBL Group Mohammad Abdur Rahim, Additional Managing Director of ICMAB Md. Mamunur Rashid, Barrister Khairul Alam Chowdhury, Professor Abu Naser Ahmed Ishtiaque of the University of Dhaka and Managing Director and CEO of Biman Kaiser Sohel Ahmed, who will serve ex-officio.

The formation of the new board is seen as significant for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which has been facing operational challenges and financial pressure in recent years, alongside concerns over service quality and efficiency.

"As the national carrier, Biman plays an important role in maintaining international connectivity, particularly for Bangladeshi workers travelling abroad, and in representing the country's image globally," says one official.

The inclusion of a mix of policymakers, corporate figures and administrative officials is expected to bring a more coordinated and professional approach to the airline's management.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com