Arrest warrants issued against ex-justice Mesbah Uddin, six others over faulty EgyptAir lease

A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against former justice AFM Mesbah Uddin and six others in a case filed over the leasing of two faulty EgyptAir aircraft that allegedly caused a loss of Tk741 crore to the government.

The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Sabbir Foyez issued the warrants today (5 November) while accepting the charge sheet against 18 officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and others. 

At the same time, the court acquitted 18 accused from the case.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam confirmed the development.

The other six individuals facing arrest warrants are former Biman chairman Air Marshal Jamal Uddin Ahmed, former directors Fazle Kabir, Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, former air vice marshal Abu Esrar, former major general Abul Hossain, and Dhaka University Professor Iqbal Ahmed.

The case was filed by then ACC Deputy Director Jesmin Akhter on 6 February 2023.

After completing the investigation, ACC Deputy Director Anwarul Haque submitted the charge sheet, initially naming 16 accused — including former managing director and CEO Kevin John Steele, who has since passed away. Following further investigation, the ACC accused seven additional individuals, bringing the total to 22.

According to the charge sheet, Biman Bangladesh Airlines leased two Boeing 777-200ER aircraft from EgyptAir in 2014 under a five-year agreement.

In February 2015, one aircraft's engine malfunctioned soon after operations began. To keep the aircraft functional, another engine was leased from EgyptAir. Within one and a half years, the second engine also failed, prompting Biman to lease another engine from the same source. That engine too broke down and was sent to a US company for repairs — resulting in additional payments to both EgyptAir and the repair firm.

The charge sheet states that the deal ultimately caused a financial loss of Tk741 crore to the state exchequer.