'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 Secretariat, Bashir said, "A newspaper has questioned my patriotism. It wrote "Lords of Wings" and brought allegations of shameless nepotism. I am hurt."

He 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 continued, "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.

"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."

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.

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."

He further said, "I became chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority's board in accordance with the law. Before me, 22 ministers and advisers served as chairmen of the airline's board, including prime ministers. I am the 23rd chairman who is also an adviser. I am not the only one."

Nasreen Jahan, secretary of the civil aviation and tourism ministry, read out a written statement at the press conference. It was noted during the briefing that recent reports in various media outlets had misrepresented aviation sector reform activities.

She said former chairman of the Biman Board, Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, wished to step down from his position at Biman Bangladesh Airlines while undergoing medical treatment in Singapore.

In this context, he was relieved of his duties, and with the approval of the chief adviser under the Bangladesh Biman Act 2023, Adviser Bashir was appointed to serve as chairman alongside his ministerial responsibilities, Nasreen said.

"There are several precedents of ministers in charge of this ministry simultaneously serving as the chairman of the Biman Board," the secretary said.

She stated that the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Ordinance 2026 and the Travel Agency Registration and Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2026 were issued to eliminate air ticket syndicates and ticket blocking.

"As a result, air ticket distribution channels have been brought under licensing and accountability frameworks, leading to a reduction in ticket prices," said the secretary.

Citing examples, Nasreen said in February last year, the price of a ticket on the Dhaka-Jeddah route was Tk1.05 lakh; currently, it has dropped to between Tk53,000 and Tk60,000. Additionally, it has been possible to reduce the cost of Hajj pilgrimage tickets by Tk54,000 compared to the previous season, she said.

Regarding the purchase of aircraft from the US-based Boeing Company, the secretary explained that Biman Bangladesh is currently operating with a fleet of only 19 aircraft.

"By 2030, a further four aircraft are scheduled to be phased out. Consequently, if new aircraft are not added to the fleet, the smooth operation of existing routes will be disrupted, and it will be impossible to launch flights on new routes," she said.

Furthermore, the United States proposed that Bangladesh purchase 25 Boeing aircraft as a means of reducing the trade deficit, said the secretary.

Noting that neighbouring countries have already signed agreements to purchase hundreds of Boeing jets, she added that this decision was made to facilitate the expansion of Biman Bangladesh's network and fleet.