Biman Sets Committee to Probe Crew Member’s Harassment of Female Passenger

Biman A committee has been established by Bangladesh Airlines to look into the alleged incidence of harassment of a female passenger by a member of the cabin staff on a trip to the UAE on July 11.

Md Naoshad Hossain, chief financial officer (deputy secretary) of Biman, gave the one-person committee, which was led by General Manager (Cargo) Md Rashedul Karim, two weeks to deliver its findings.

According to sources at Biman, the female traveler was the only one on board Biman aircraft BG-251, which departed Sylhet for Sharjah around 8:30 p.m. on July 11.

The complainant claimed in a written complaint to Biman's managing director and CEO that a flight purser engaged her in a pointless chat after takeoff.

Flight attendant asked to dance with her after complimenting her on her dancing skills. At one point, he sat in the seat next to the female passenger and switched off the lights at the front of the business class section.

The flight attendant posed a series of silly and intimate questions. And he attempted to touch her.

He once attempted to engage the passenger in sexual harassment by turning off the light over the seat.

The flight attendant also instructed her to go see him at the ACT Hotel in Sharjah where he would be staying.

The flight purser made an effort to act decently when a female cabin crew member sat in business class before the plane arrived in Sharjah.

Additionally, the female passenger noted that she was unable to criticize or take any other action against the flight attendant because of a lack of security.

The complainant stated that she will never travel with Biman Bangladesh Airlines again.

The cabin staff member has already been grounded by Biman.

Asked, Naoshad Hossain said they have taken the complaint very seriously. If the allegations are proved in the investigation, Biman authorities will take stern actions against the concerned flight purser as per the rules, he added.