National

PM asks Biman to adopt new technology, improve service

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today laid emphasis on improving service quality of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, asking the national flag carrier to put concentration on learning and adopting new technologies to cut dependency on others.

"Biman should put concentration on learning and adopting new technologies to cut dependency on others as it will help save foreign currency," she said.

The premier said this while addressing the opening ceremony of the Golden Jubilee celebration of the state-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines at Balaka Bhaban in Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport as the chief guest.

She joined the function virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban here.

Referring to the first ever successful completion of landing gears replacement of modern Boeing 777-300 ER and C-check of Boeing 787 with own management and human resources, she said the process has saved huge foreign currency of Biman alongside reducing dependency on others.

The prime minister said Biman's ground handling management was not up to the mark in the past, but the government is working to establish a separate unit to develop it as a more standard section.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina told the airline that the training and manpower is needed to make the ground handing management system efficient.

"You (Biman authority) have to focus on ground handling so that it can be done with honesty and efficiency," she said.

She added that the unit (ground handling) is needed to be formed as soon as possible so necessary skilled manpower is recruited for an improved passengers' service.

With State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md. Mahbub Ali in the chair, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal delivered the welcome address.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Md. Mokammel Hossain also spoke.

Chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Board of Directors Sajjadul Hassan was present.

At the outset of the function, a video documentary on the operation of Biman Bangladesh Airlines was screened.