JS body seeks list of ex-board members and procurement committee involved in the purchase.
Representational Image/TBS
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Representational Image/TBS
Highlights:
- Biman faces scrutiny over two 15-year-old Dash-8 purchases
- Parliamentary body flags alleged wastage of public funds
- Biman asked to identify officials involved in aircraft procurement
- 111 unresolved audit objections involve Tk753.50cr, from 1996 to 2021
- Audit flags revenue leakages from passenger service systems
- Sabre payments questioned over undelivered contracted services
Biman Bangladesh Airlines is facing fresh scrutiny over its purchase of two 15-year-old Dash-8 aircraft after their lease expired, despite its procurement policy prohibiting the acquisition of old aircraft.
The purchase and subsequent operational expenses allegedly wasted public funds, according to a parliamentary committee review today (10 November).
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings has asked Biman to submit, within 15 days to one month, a list of former board members and procurement committee members involved in the purchase.
The committee also directed the authorities to determine responsibility for the alleged misuse of public money and take legal action against those found responsible, according to a press release.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, reviewed several audit objections and alleged irregularities involving aircraft procurement and operations, revenue collection, passenger service systems and loss-making routes.
The committee expressed concern that Biman had failed to provide auditors with contracts and expenditure bills for the two leased Dash-8 aircraft. It directed the airline to submit all relevant documents within 15 days.
Meanwhile, weaknesses in Biman’s Departure Control System and RAPID software reportedly caused substantial revenue losses, according to audit findings.
The audit found that international passengers upgraded from economy to business class after paying additional charges, but the money was not deposited into the airline’s accounting system.
The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has launched a comprehensive IT audit to investigate possible revenue leakages and system weaknesses. The committee asked Biman to provide all relevant data from July to October.
The committee also questioned payments to passenger service system provider Sabre, noting that the full contract amount had reportedly been paid despite the company failing to deliver all contracted services.
Biman and the audit department have been directed to submit a joint report within seven days.
The committee also examined alleged irregularities in chartered cargo flights on the Dhaka-Guangzhou route during the Covid-19 pandemic, with fares reportedly shown at lower rates, resulting in additional revenue not being deposited into the government treasury.
Biman has been directed to complete an internal investigation within one month, identify those responsible and take administrative and legal action.
The meeting also reviewed 111 unresolved audit objections involving around Tk753.50 crore, dating from 1996 to 2021.
Of 45 audit objections involving money recovery, auditors rejected Biman’s claims of settling eight objections due to a lack of valid bank statements supporting the recovery.
The committee directed Biman to submit a time-bound action plan within one month covering the settlement of outstanding audit objections, recovery of unpaid amounts and progress in related legal proceedings.
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