DHAKA: Biman Bangladesh Airlines brought two Boeing 777-200 ER aircrafts from Egypt on lease with Tk 50 crore as advance payment.

Many officials at Biman called the amount of advance payment unprecedented.

“It is also a mystery,” said an official.

The monthly rent for the two old aircrafts of Egypt Air is Tk 10 crore, which also raised questions.

“Biman could easily buy aircrafts (less old than the two rented) by the amount lesser than the Biman will pay in rent in five years,” said a top official of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

The two aircrafts have already been included in the Biman fleet.

Sources concerned said that Biman Chairman Jamaluddin Ahmed had gone to Egypt in April to bring the two aircrafts.

He was accompanied by by Biman’s Flight Operation Director Captain Ishrat, Captain Shamim Nazrul, Chief Engineer Debesh Chowdhury and some other officials.

Of them, Debesh Chowdhury stayed in Egypt for about a month.

Eight officials of the Egypt Air are now in Dhaka.

Industry insiders said that Egypt Air was trying to lease out some of its older aircrafts as it had been experiencing setback in business following political turmoil in Egypt.

“Egypt Air has been successful in leasing out its aircrafts to Bangladesh at an unprecedented and mysterious deal,” said another Biman official preferring not to be named.

According to Biman officials, the national flag career had a loss of Tk 214 crore in the first year after Kevin Steel took over as MD of the Biman.

The loss in first five months of current year stood at Tk 222 crore.

Besides, the Biman has an accumulating loan of Tk 2000 crore.

The central bank did not respond to a Biman request of repaying the loan.

“The latest inclusion of aircrafts on lease will bring more financial burden for Biman,” said a concerned official.

Mosaddek Ahmed, Acting MD of Biman, would not talk about the matter.

He cut off the line when reached by mobile.

Biman Chairman Jamaluddin was not available as he is now in Singapore.

BDST: 1245 HRS, MAY 15, 2014