Biman sacks 2 employees over 'unauthorised handover of tyres'

The Biman Bangladesh Airlines has terminated two employees for handing over ten "unserviceable" aircraft tyres to a staff member of private carrier US-Bangla Airlines, reportedly without approval from the authorities.

Biman spokesperson ABM Rowshan Kabir told The Business Standard, "Following a preliminary investigation, the security division identified the two individuals. They have been terminated as per regulations."

The dismissed employees are Arman Hossain, supervisor of material management, and Samsul Haque, store helper. 

A termination letter issued by Biman's Administration and Human Resources Department on Thursday cited Section 52 of the Bangladesh Biman Corporation Employees Regulations. 

It stated that their service was ended with immediate effect, along with a one-month salary in lieu of notice and all other legal entitlements.

According to Biman, the tyres were already marked for auction. 

On 16 August, the two employees attempted to hand those over to a US-Bangla staff member in exchange for six tyres. 

Security personnel intercepted the act, and a general diary (GD) was filed with the Airport Police Station on 18 August.

Airport Thana OC Taslima Akhter told TBS, "The tyres were recovered, so police are not conducting a criminal investigation. Any departmental action remains the airline's internal matter." 

He mentioned that the GD did not label the incident as 'theft'.

When contacted, a US-Bangla Airlines official, requesting anonymity, dismissed the allegation as baseless. 

"What would we do with unserviceable tyres? Besides, our aircraft are not the same as theirs," the official said.