Rumee A Hossain appointed chairman of Biman as new board formed

The government has formed a new board for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, appointing Rumee A. Hossain as its chairman.

The announcement was made through a notification issued by the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry on Saturday.

Rumee A. Hossain, who is a sponsor director of Bank Asia and chairman of its executive committee, assumes the responsibility at a time when the position of chairman had remained vacant for a considerable period following the resignation of Sheikh Bashir Uddin. His appointment comes amid efforts to strengthen governance and improve the performance of the national flag carrier.

The newly constituted board includes senior government officials, military representatives, business leaders and policy experts. Among them are Finance Division Secretary Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Majumdar, Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Secretary Fahmida Akhter, Air Vice Marshal Javed Tanveer Khan, Major General Md. Hasan Uz Zaman, BNP International Affairs Secretary Barrister Nasir Uddin Ahmed Asim, Chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Bangladesh M. Masrur Reaz, Chairman of United Commercial Bank Sharif Zahir, Vice Chairman of DBL Group Mohammad Abdur Rahim, Additional Managing Director of ICMAB Md. Mamunur Rashid, Barrister Khairul Alam Chowdhury, Professor Abu Naser Ahmed Ishtiaque of University of Dhaka and Managing Director and CEO of Biman Kaiser Sohel Ahmed, who will serve ex-officio.

The formation of the new board is seen as significant for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which has been facing operational challenges and financial pressure in recent years, alongside concerns over service quality and efficiency. As the national carrier, Biman plays an important role in maintaining international connectivity, particularly for Bangladeshi workers travelling abroad, and in representing the country’s image globally. The inclusion of a mix of policymakers, corporate figures and administrative officials is expected to bring a more coordinated and professional approach to the airline’s management.