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A deep-seated crisis has emerged within Biman Bangladesh Airlines as internal investigations reveal a near-total collapse of its once-lucrative London-Dhaka cargo operations, now largely surrendered to foreign competitors.
The national flag carrier is reportedly grappling with annual losses amounting to hundreds of crores of taka following what whistleblowers and internal documents describe as administrative overreach and a targeted conspiracy. Analysis of emergency meeting minutes dated September 27, 2023, suggests that the downturn began sharply after the exclusion of JMG Cargo & Travels Limited—a prominent British-Bangladeshi firm—from its Cargo Sales Agent (CSA) roster.
Records indicate that JMG Cargo had maintained a successful partnership with Biman since 2009, formalized through multiple incentive-based agreements in 2013 and 2014. However, the relationship was terminated in 2020 under the direction of then-Country Manager Harun Khan. Investigations highlight that before this termination, the agent consistently provided approximately 8 tons of cargo per flight, a figure that was abruptly restricted to 3 tons without a technical or logical justification, initiating the revenue decline.
A marketing department report signed by Mohammad Salahuddin in December 2023 confirms the financial fallout. In the 2018-19 fiscal year, Biman generated 47.44 crore BDT from the London-Dhaka cargo route, with over half attributed to JMG Cargo. Following the contract termination on September 3, 2020, annual earnings for the 2020-21 period plummeted to a mere 5.93 crore BDT.
The investigation points toward a coordinated effort by specific officials, including former Finance Controller Abu Sayeed Md. Manzur Imam, who led a two-member probe team to London in 2020. Allegations suggest the team submitted a unilateral report without consulting the affected agency, influencing the executive management of the time. While former Managing Director Shafiul Azim previously expressed dissatisfaction over the revenue loss and urged the reinstatement of the agency, the process reportedly stalled following his transfer.
Monir Ahmed, Managing Director of JMG Cargo, stated that the exclusion has forced the Bangladeshi diaspora to rely on foreign airlines, which negatively impacts the national economy. Despite repeated written appeals to various government departments over the last five years, the firm continues to seek a resolution under the current administration.
Internal estimates suggest cumulative financial damages between 2020 and 2023 exceeded 400 crore BDT, with current projections indicating the loss has now surpassed 600 crore BDT. Despite recommendations from Biman's Dhaka headquarters to resume the partnership, the London office has allegedly delayed the process by introducing new, unconventional conditions.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Biman’s current London Country Manager, Riyad Sulaiman, regarding the 87% drop in cargo revenue and the delay in implementing headquarters' recommendations, remained unsuccessful at the time of publication.
