Staff Reporter :
A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against former justice AFM Mesbah Uddin and six others in connection with the controversial lease of two faulty aircraft from EgyptAir, which reportedly caused a financial loss of Tk741 crore to the government.
The order was passed on Tuesday (5 November) by Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Sabbir Foyez, who also accepted the charge sheet against 18 officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and others. At the same time, the court cleared 18 individuals from the case.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam confirmed the issuance of the warrants.
Those facing arrest include former Biman chairman Air Marshal (retd) Jamal Uddin Ahmed, former directors Fazle Kabir and Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, former Air Vice Marshal Abu Esrar, former Major General Abul Hossain, and Dhaka University Professor Iqbal Ahmed.
The case was originally filed on 6 February 2023 by then ACC Deputy Director Jesmin Akhter, alleging large-scale corruption and misuse of public funds in the lease process.
Following investigation, ACC Deputy Director Anwarul Haque submitted the charge sheet naming 16 accused, including former Biman managing director and CEO Kevin John Steele (now deceased). After further inquiries, the number of accused rose to 22.
According to the charge sheet, Biman Bangladesh Airlines leased two Boeing 777-200ER aircraft from EgyptAir in 2014 under a five-year agreement. However, technical failures began to surface shortly after the planes entered service.
In February 2015, one aircraft’s engine malfunctioned, forcing Biman to lease a replacement engine from EgyptAir. Within 18 months, the second engine also broke down, requiring another lease from the same source.
That engine too became inoperable and had to be sent to a US-based repair company — leading to further expenses. The ACC investigation found that the poorly negotiated lease agreements and subsequent mismanagement resulted in a cumulative loss of Tk741 crore to the national exchequer.
The court has directed law enforcement agencies to take necessary steps to execute the arrest warrants and produce the accused before the court.
