|| Desk Report: A parliamentary committee has directed Biman Bangladesh Airlines to identify those responsible for financial irregularities, recover outstanding revenues and take legal action against individuals involved in alleged misuse of public funds.The directives came at the sixth progress review meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings of the 13th National Parliament, held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Tuesday.The meeting was chaired by Committee Chairman and Chief Whip of Parliament Nurul Islam Moni, with members, including Whips Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu and Md Akhtaruzzaman Mia, attending.The committee reviewed the implementation of its previous decisions concerning Biman Bangladesh Airlines and discussed a range of issues, including audit objections, irregularities in aircraft procurement and operations, weaknesses in reservation and passenger service systems, revenue leakage and the operation of loss-making routes.A major concern was the purchase of two 15-year-old Dash-8 aircraft that had initially been taken on lease. Although Biman's procurement policy does not allow the purchase of old aircraft, the two planes were purchased after the lease period expired.The committee expressed concern over the alleged wastage of public money in the purchase and subsequent operational expenditure. It directed Biman to submit, within 15 days to one month, a list of members of the then board of directors and procurement committee involved in the relevant decisions. It also called for determining responsibility for the financial losses and taking necessary legal action against those found responsible.The committee also raised concerns over substantial revenue losses caused by weaknesses in Biman's Departure Control System and Rapid software.According to audit findings, passengers on international flights were upgraded from economy to business class against additional payments, but the collected amounts were not properly recorded in Biman's accounting system.To identify such irregularities and prevent revenue evasion, the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has initiated a comprehensive IT audit of Biman. The committee instructed the airline to provide auditors with all relevant data and records from July to October.The operation of several routes without proper commercial feasibility assessments also came under scrutiny. Audit observations reportedly found financial losses resulting from board decisions to operate certain routes without adequate evaluation of their commercial viability.The committee asked Biman to submit the relevant board decisions along with detailed income and expenditure statements for each route.Another issue involved the agreement with Sabre, the supplier of Biman's Passenger Service System. The committee reviewed allegations that the airline had paid the full contract amount despite the supplier's failure to deliver all the services and work specified in the contract. Biman authorities and the audit department were instructed to jointly submit a written report on the matter within seven days.The committee also expressed concern that Biman had failed to provide auditors with contractual documents and bills relating to expenditure on the two leased aircraft. It directed the airline to submit all relevant documents to the auditors within 15 days. Biman authorities assured the committee that the documents would be provided within the stipulated timeframe.A separate audit objection concerning chartered cargo flights on the Dhaka-Guangzhou route during the Covid-19 pandemic was also discussed. Allegations suggested that freight charges had been shown at lower rates, resulting in additional money not being deposited into the government treasury.The committee directed Biman to complete an internal investigation within one month and submit a comprehensive report. It also instructed the authorities to identify those involved and take administrative and legal action against them.Particularly concerning was the disclosure of 111 unresolved audit objections involving approximately Tk 753.50 crore for the period between 1996 and 2021.Of the 45 audit objections involving the recovery of money, Biman claimed that eight had been resolved through payments. However, the audit department did not accept those claims because the airline failed to provide valid bank statements supporting the alleged recoveries.The committee also discussed outstanding dues and directed Biman to submit a time-bound action plan within one month, outlining measures to settle the audit objections, recover unpaid amounts and update the progress of relevant cases and legal proceedings.Emphasising financial discipline and institutional accountability, the committee called for the speedy settlement of audit objections, recovery of outstanding revenues and strict action against those involved in corruption and financial irregularities.It also instructed Biman to take effective measures to transform the national flag carrier into a corruption-free, technologically modern, efficient and profitable organisation.The Comptroller and Auditor General, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Managing Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and senior officials from the Parliament Secretariat, the ministry and the national carrier attended the meeting.The committee's directives highlight growing parliamentary concern over the financial management of the national flag carrier, particularly the need to protect public money, strengthen internal controls and ensure accountability for decisions that have allegedly caused financial losses.