RASHIDUL HASAN

A senior pilot and an operations officer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines were denied clearance by police to carry out duties regarding the flight of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her just-concluded trip to India.

The VIP Protection Wing of the police’s Special Branch in a letter to Biman’s deputy general manager (security) on September 4 raised objections to the inclusion of the duo in the 65-member Biman team, which included cockpit crews, cabin crews, and ground engineers.

The team was tasked with carrying out duties on the chartered flight of Biman, according to the letter.

The SB, however, did not mention any reason for refusing clearance to the duo.

A copy of the letter was sent to Special Security Force at the Prime Ministers’ Office. The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the letter.

This newspaper is withholding the names of the two as they could not be reached for comments on the issue.

The SB in the letter raised objections against three out of the 65 Biman personnel, including a pilot instructor of the Boeing 787 aircraft.

But the instructor was later granted clearance to operate the flight following an investigation by the SB, said a competent source in Biman.

The source also said the senior pilot, who was denied clearance, was supposed to fly the plane.

Contacted, Biman Managing Director and CEO Zahid Hossain, who was in the PM’s entourage, yesterday refused to make any comment on the SB’s report.

Hasina returned home last night after wrapping up her four-day state visit to India.