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Download PDF Shamim Iskander, a former flight engineer of Biman and brother of ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia, made a fortune taking commissions on lease and maintenance of aircraft and purchase of spare parts, said airline sources.
He is one of those blamed for the huge losses incurred by the national flag carrier that had almost gone bankrupt during the BNP-led four-party alliance rule, said several former and incumbent officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
Arrested by the joint forces on July 18, Shamim is listed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as a graft suspect.
Talking to The Daily Star, some of his former colleagues in Biman said he would lead a life of luxury. He would use a platinum credit card of UK-based Barclays Bank and ride a fancy SUV, which was seized by Dinajpur police in a corruption case on June 21. He owns a house each in Australia and Canada, they continued.
The wealth statement he submitted to the ACC on June 10 last year shows that he and his wife have assets worth around Tk 4 crore and 75 tolas of gold.
However, Biman sources said Shamim made at least Tk 40 crore in commission on lease of three aircrafts for the airline during the tenure of alliance government.
Biman had to pay at least Tk 250 crore for lease on the three aircraft when at least six such planes could have been bought with that amount, they added.
He also had a role in having an Airbus aircraft leased to Biman from the US. Riddled with defects, the plane cost Biman about Tk 100 crore in five years, whereas its current market price is about Tk 62.10 crore.
Besides, he made arrangements for a Boeing 747 to be leased to Biman, which was not necessary at that time, and for which the airline had to dig deep into its purse.
During the four-party rule, he earned huge sums in return for helping foreign companies win the work of aircraft maintenance, engine overhaul and tenders for purchase of spare parts.
Local agent of the foreign firms was headed by his brother-in-law Shahedul Haq who has been on the run since January 11 last year.
Shamim would dictate the terms of every transfer, dismissal and appointment of Biman staff.
By 2006, the situation worsened so much so that employees and pilots went on a movement to save Biman and rid it from corruption.
Towards the end of Khaleda Zia government, he went into voluntary retirement.
Biman sources said Shamim was not known much before 1991 when BNP came to power and Khaleda Zia became the prime minister for the first time.
Soon he began using his clout as a brother of the government head.
On May 5 this year, the ACC filed a case with Raman Police Station against Shamim Iskander and his wife Kaniz Fatema for amassing wealth through illegal means.
ACC Deputy Assistant Director AM Javed Hasan, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, told The Daily Star that the retired flight engineer had wealth worth Tk 20.47 lakh beyond his known sources of income.
AHM Nurul Islam, who worked as Khaleda Zia’s personal secretary during her term as prime minister in 2001-2006, in an interview with a Bangla daily last year said Shamim would frequent the Prime Minister’s Office throughout the alliance rule.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on June 22, 2007 asked different commercial banks to submit reports on the transactions of Shamim and 60 other individuals.
September 8th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
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