The government is planning to reorganise the national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines by introducing new generation aircraft changing the existing old lot. The government plans to equip the fleet of Biman Bangladesh Airlines with the long and medium haul aircraft particularly Boeing 777 and Airbus 330.

The Board of Directors of Biman Bangladesh Airlines in its meeting held in the last week of March approved the proposal to replace Biman”s present old aircraft with the new generation at a cost of Taka 25,000 crore.

Earlier the Technical Evalution Committee headed by secretary ministry of communication shafiqul islam evaluted the proposal and submitted its report to the Board of Directors of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the Biman Board approved it in its meeting in the last week of March.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is now thinking to procure 10 new generation aircraft by removing the existing 14. Of the 14 aircraft 10 are own and the rest four are under lease. The aircraft of DC 10-30 are six. Of the six four are own and the rest two are under lease. The number of Airbus is four. Two are own and the rest two under lease. The number of F-28 is four.

The Chairman of Board of Directors of Biman Bangladesh Airlines is State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin and the Chairman of Technical Evaluation Committee is the Secretary of Ministry of Communication Shafiqul Islam. Earlier he was the Secretary of Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and now both the Chairman use to maintain a sweet relation to purchase new generation aircraft for the national airlines.

Other members of the Technical Evalution Committee are Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr. Kamaluddin Siddqui, Secretary Ministry of Finance, Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Chairman Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Khondokar Mahbubuddin Ahemd MP and M.H. Rubel MP. Secretary Ministry of Communication Shafiqul Islam prepared the report as Chairman of Technical Evalution Committee.

The report prepared by the Technical Evalution Committee and approved by the Board of Directors of Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been placed to the Minister Council Committee headed by Prime Minister.

The committee will take final decision whether Biman will go for new generation aircraft or will continue with existing old lot. A source said that after the meeting of Ministers Council Committee a memorandum of understanding might be signed with the aircraft companies by next June.

Meanwhile the Boeing Company has informed the Bangladesh Government that it would be able to supply only one aircraft by the year 2007. Airbus Company has informed the government that it would be able to supply four aircraft as desired by the government by the year 2006.