Editorial
Biman grounded
Government intercession needed immediately
The current situation prevailing in Bangladesh Biman is unwarranted and unacceptable. The national airlines has virtually ground to a halt as a result of strike called by the pilots in protest against suspension of four pilots, which again is the consequence of action and counteraction of the two parties, the Biman management and Bangladesh Airlines Pilots Associations (BAPA), that have to do with certain provisions in the working conditions of the pilots and their retirement age.
It is indeed a shame that the national carrier has become inoperative, except for the Hajj flights, for the last 48 hours, and, given the rather hostile position of the Biman administration and the pilots, one is not certain if the impasse will be resolved soon unless the highest authority in the government intervenes. The Biman management has given 48 hours ultimatum and have already cancelled flight schedule for 48 hours starting yesterday. And we do not know what alternative arrangements have been made by Biman should the pilots not join duty after expiry of the ultimatum to restart Biman's operation without much delay.
While both the airline's management and the pilots must share the blame for the current state of affairs there is little doubt that the Biman administration cannot absolve themselves of the responsibility for grossly mishandling the situation, for indeed there is every reason to believe that the matter was handled in a very ham handed manner. When what was needed was a degree of coolheaded reaction on the part of the management one noticed instead emotion and hasty decisions compounding the situation. In this context we are surprised at what we see as the detached position of the ministry of civil aviation. We have not heard from the minister anything regarding the deadlock as yet.
We feel that the Biman management should have thrashed out the issue of the retirement age of pilots, which has been increased but many benefits slashed, and which is the main bone of contention, or the issue of flying hours that the pilots insist cannot exceed 70 hours per month, with BAPA before taking the final decision. Why couldn't Biman wait for the time-limit of the show cause notices to expire before suspending the four pilots? As for BAPA, we are appalled by its lack of appreciation of the consequences of calling strike without adequate notice.
It is regrettable that both the parties are displaying inflexible attitude. That will not help resolve matters. Both parties must immediately sit across the table to put an end to the impasse. The two must understand that they are not the only ones involved in the matter; one cannot lay preconditions for talks on an issue that involves thousands of passengers.
The national flag carrier is in dire straits. And the current issue is but one aspect of the illness of Biman. Among other things, poor management has been worsened by the absence of good relationship between Biman and the ministry. Such a situation demand immediate intervention by the prime minister's office.
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