DHAKA: Chief Executive and Managing Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Jakiul Islam was freed from a six-hour confinement Tuesday after he pledged in writing to the agitating employees to arrange a pay hike for them.

The MD was made to sign the undertaking, accepting all demands of the demonstrators, in the evening following negotiations with leaders of different unions and organizations in his desperate bid to save the situation.

Their demands include postponement of the pay scale approved in the Board Meeting Saturday, cancellation of the latest decision on pension and upholding the existing system in fixing pay scale according to percentage of salary increase in 2009.      
   
They also demanded that the authorities accept the resignation letter of company secretary Abdur Rashid and not reappoint him in Biman in future.

Earlier, the employees of Biman Bangladesh Airlines threatened to shut down operations of the national flag carrier for realizing the pay hike, opening a new front in the current troubles facing the state-sector aviation company.

The staff members went on the demonstration for new pay scale as well as demanding resignation of Biman’s chairman Air Vice-Marshal (Retd) Jamal Uddin Ahmed, managing director Jakiul Islam and company secretary Abdur Rashid.

The agitating employees took position in front of the MD’s room at 11am and besieged his office till 5pm.

BDST: 2300 HRS AUGUST 31, 2010