‘No conflict of interest’: Bashir says owns helicopter with no blades, explains commercial licence move

Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin today (8 February) rejected allegations of nepotism, saying he owns a helicopter without blades and has not exerted any influence to secure a commercial aviation licence.

Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism at the Secretariat, Bashir said, “A newspaper has questioned my patriotism. It wrote ‘Lords of Wings’ and brought allegations of shameless nepotism. I am hurt.”

Bashir Uddin said, “I have only one helicopter, and it does not have any blades. In Bangladesh, private helicopter licences are not issued. That is why Akij Bashir Aviation Limited applied for a commercial licence.”

The adviser further said, “I am the major shareholder of that company. My company’s managing director, Taslim Mohammad Khan, went to the relevant authority’s office regarding the licence. At that time, the authority wanted to speak to me as the major shareholder, so I joined them through a video call. Even then, my company has not received a licence in the last 11 months, despite having pilots, engineers, a hangar, and all other required facilities. So how did I exert influence or create a conflict of interest?”

He said, “I have never been involved in service-oriented businesses. I do not own any television channel, newspaper, or online portal. I have no bank, insurance, leasing institution, or hotel business, nor do I have any interest in such ventures. I am a factory owner.”

He said, “Every year, business worth Tk1.32 lakh crore takes place from Bangladesh through airline tickets and other services. Of this, only Tk20,000 crore comes from airline operations, while the rest is handled by others, where corruption and money laundering take place.”

“Some policies have been introduced to stop these practices. As a result, a group is spreading propaganda against me, and most recently the widely circulated English daily The Daily Star has joined them,” Bashir Uddin said.

The commerce adviser said he would submit a statement of his assets before stepping down from office, adding that as an adviser he did not take any government car or house and did not abuse his power.

“My asset statement is ready. I will submit it before leaving office,” he added. 

At the briefing, the adviser said that while carrying out his duties properly, he did not hesitate to impose travel bans on two members of his own family and even had them taken off aircraft at airports to stop them from travelling abroad.

“The civil aviation ministry has imposed travel bans on 39 individuals. Two of them are members of my family.”