POBNEWS24, Dhaka Sept 10, 2024 :
• Biman’s new MD and CEO Safiqur Rahman has 34 years of experience in aviation
• Safiqur Rahman wants to spread Biman’s reputation around the world
• Biman needs to build a skilled ‘team’ to move forward: Kazi Wahidul Alam
The background of India’s lunar victory is well known. A year ago, India was able to successfully send a spacecraft to the moon. S. Somnath, chairman of India’s space research center ISRO, has led this work efficiently. He is an aerospace engineer by profession.
After India’s success, there was a storm of discussion on the social media Facebook about the chairman of Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARSO). Abdus Samad, former chairman of SPARSO, was an administrative cadre officer, educated in agriculture. Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the only national flag carrier, was in the same situation as Spurso.
Five Managing Directors (MDs) and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) have been appointed and transferred in the organization in the last five years. All of them were administrative cadre officers. Before they understood the ‘B’ of the plane, they were transferred to another place. As a result Biman could not reach his desired destination.
Recently, the former director (marketing and sales) of the company has joined the position of MD and CEO of Biman. Md. Safiqur Rahman. He has 34 years of experience in aviation. Those concerned in this sector are expecting that he will ensure the highest passenger service in the aircraft and take the company on a profitable path.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines was established on January 4, 1972. Even though the airline is 52 years old, it has not been able to ensure the desired service. It is rooted in lack of long-term planning and skilled manpower. That is, the development of the aircraft was not possible due to the appointment of MD and CEO of the organization and the lack of experience of the related persons. In the past, those who joined Biman as MDs and CEOs were transferred before they could understand the ins and outs of Biman. So everyone is expecting that the new MD and CEO will be able to take Biman to its goal.
Sources of Biman Bangladesh Airlines said that on September 4 Dr. Md. Safiqur Rahman was appointed as MD and CEO by Biman Board of Directors. Safiqur Rahman started his career as a trainee commercial officer in Biman Bangladesh Airlines in 1986. He served as Director Administration & Human Resources, Director Procurement & Logistics Support and Director Marketing & Sales of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Besides, he has worked in Tariff, Market Research, Reservation, Cargo etc. He also served as Country Manager in Singapore, Thailand and Greece stations of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. He retired in 2017 after a long career.
Safiqur Rahman completed his graduation and post graduation from Dhaka University Department of Economics. Later he completed MBA in Marketing from University of Southern Queensland, Australia and Doctor of Business Administration from Southern Cross University, Australia in 2011. He has done several diplomas and training in aviation from International Air Transport Association and Bangladesh Airlines Training Center.
Md. hoping to increase the quality of air passenger service and the loss-making aircraft. Safiqur Rahman told Jago News, ‘We are trying to increase the quality of passenger service on the plane. We want to spread the quality or reputation of Biman’s service all over the world. I have started working towards that goal. Hopefully, I can inform the nation about the future plans of Biman through the media.’
Five MD and CEO appointments, transfers in five years
Biman Bangladesh Airlines administration office sources said that from September 2019 to February 2021, Md. was in charge as MD and CEO of Biman for about one and a half years. Mokabbir Hossain. He was removed and given responsibility. Abu Saleh Mustafa Kamal. He served from February 2021 to July 2022. Then came Zahid Hossain. He got only five months. He was appointed in July 2022. His term ended on December 7 of the same year.
On December 7, 2022, Shafiul Azim took over as MD and CEO of Biman. He launched various international routes including Dhaka-Toronto, Dhaka-Narita, Dhaka-Guangzhou, Dhaka-Rome. Besides, he took various initiatives including taking charge of the ground handling of the third terminal of Shahjalal International Airport, buying modern aircraft for the airline. He was also removed from duty on May 29.
Later on May 30, Biman took over as MD and CEO of Bangladesh Airlines. Zahidul Islam Bhuna. Before joining Biman, this BCS (Administration) 18th batch officer was working as private secretary to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s private industry and investment adviser Salman F Rahman. Therefore, after the fall of the government on August 5, Zahidul Islam was also OSD by the Ministry of Public Administration.
Biman’s senior officials said that the post of Biman’s CEO is an operational post. But in the last five years, four of the five MD-CEOs who have taken over as MD-CEOs in an important company like Biman were bureaucrats working in the ministry. They were appointed to these positions with no experience in the commercial management of the organization and little experience in the aviation industry. Again, they have to be transferred or promoted before taking over the overall operations of the aircraft. As a result the airline cannot guarantee its passenger service.
“This is a good initiative. Through this, there is a good start for our own people to become MD and CEO. But the new MD faces many challenges. This requires a skilled team. Through whom all sectors of aviation can move forward equally.
He said, ‘We know that most of those who have been appointed or promoted in the past have come on recommendation. Today those who are in big positions, they have got benefits. That is why it will be difficult to get skilled people from among them. So Biman has to take the initiative to hire new skilled people.
