We demand a white paper

The state minister for civil aviation without a spot of bother has had, actually, the temerity of proposing ten new aircrafts, as though 'hitting the iron when it is hot'. The finance minister has agreed to buy four, but one only hopes without resort to suppliers' credit.

Biman, the national flag carrier, could turn out to be a national shame if the cascading falls in its standards of management, operational efficiency and passenger safety are not arrested and a radical improvement effected in those vital areas.

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In Sylhet, 'the blessings of Hazrat Shah Jalal (R) saved a Biman disaster while those of Shah Amanat came to the rescue of the passengers aboard the DC-10 in Chittagong,' the finance minister quipped wondering how long the dervishes could bless us to survive despite our failings. The state minister for civil aviation admitted to losing sleep at night on 25-year-old vintage aircrafts! What kind of a fleet are we flying and the safety concerns we are reflecting for the passengers?

Whichever way one might look at the situation, the objective conditions cannot but raise questions about the state minister's leadership quality and his levels of competence. The very image of Biman reeks with corruption and mismanagement in the public mind.

There is no escaping an impression, therefore, that Biman is using the latest accident as a ploy to push its proposal for buying new planes which might only fatten the purse of some high-ups through commission payments and kickbacks. Only five months ago, the finance ministry had shot down the proposal for buying new aircrafts underscoring the pressing need for overcoming mismanagement as a better alternative. What has occasioned the change of heart?

We demand that a white paper be issued on all aspects of the running of Biman's affairs as soon as possible. Also, we want a high powered inquiry committee set up to go into the whole question of Biman's operational deficiencies, including commercial pitfalls and passengers safety standards. It is very strange that while reputed international airlines are increasing their numbers of flights into Dhaka to serve wide ranging passenger flows, Biman Bangladesh Airlines is on a declining course.