DHAKA: The Pilots of national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines will now go on full retirement at the age of 60 as the authorities concerned decided to increase the age by three years.

Recently, Biman’s Board of Directors made the decision at a meeting recently. Earlier, the pilot went on retirement at the age of 57.

In 2010, the pilots under the banner of Bangladesh Airlines Pilots Association (BAPA) went on tough movement, even enforced strike, in demand of increasing retirement age from 57 to 62. However, the authorities managed to pass over their demand at that time.

The pilots said that if Biman authorities met their demand in previous time many senior pilots would not go on retirement. In this case, it was not necessary to bring foreign pilots costing several-folds of money, they added.

At present, some 16 foreign pilots are working at the national airlines.

BDST: 1019 HRS, SEP 21, 2014