FROM PAGE 12

This development, which came less than a month ahead of the February 12 national election, raised questions in the aviation industry.

On August 26 last year, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin was made chairman of Biman board while serving as adviser to the civil aviation ministry.

At the time, many raised questions about his appointment as chairman of a company under his own ministry while holding the rank of a minister as an adviser, as it is tantamount to conflict of interest.

The allegations, however, were rejected by the adviser.

Aviation expert Kazi Wahidul Alam told The Daily Star that he is surprised as the government included Khalilur, Taiyeb, and Akhtar as directors of the Biman board at the fag-end of the interim government’s tenure.

“It’s really very surprising why they were made directors. In my view, there might be several agenda of the interim government, including strengthening relations with Boeing, from which Biman is going to buy aircraft.”

He also questioned how rational the appointment of EC Secretary Akhtar was at a time when he is busy with election-related activities.