Speculation has arisen following the last-minute removal of two cabin crew members from a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight originally scheduled to carry former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia from London to Dhaka.
Khaleda Zia, who has been in London for medical treatment over the past four months, will now return to Bangladesh aboard the same Qatar-based Royal Air Ambulance that flew her out, bypassing the commercial Biman flight entirely.
Multiple sources within Biman confirmed that flight BG 202 is set to depart London’s Heathrow Airport for Dhaka on Sunday. Two crew members assigned to that flight were withdrawn from duty shortly beforehand. The flight had initially been prepared to accommodate Khaleda Zia.
On Friday night, flight purser Al Kubrun Nahar Cosmic and junior purser Kamrul Islam Bipon were removed from the duty roster. Sources say the decision was made based on an intelligence report related to security concerns involving a VVIP passenger.
Biman’s general manager for public elations, Bosra Islam, told reporters: “Crew duty changes or rescheduling are routine. Sometimes, intelligence agencies advise such changes, and Biman complies. In this case, I’m unaware of the specific reasons. I contacted the deputy general Manager of flight services, but he couldn’t provide clarity either.”
Internal sources confirmed that the initial roster, finalised Friday, included chief Purser Nishi, pursers Cosmic and Biplob, and junior purser Rifaz. However, after intelligence input flagged concerns, a late-night directive led to the replacement of Cosmic and Biplon with flight purser Duke and Stewardess Anhara Marzan.
A senior Biman official disclosed that the removed crew members were flagged by intelligence agencies for their political affiliations. Al Kubrun Nahar Cosmic is reportedly close to Sheikh Rehana and has frequently served on her official flights. Despite facing disciplinary actions in the past, she was reinstated allegedly through special intervention under the previous administration.
Kamrul Islam Bipon is said to have actively participated in Awami League programmes and is known among colleagues for his political leanings. While these affiliations had previously not posed a problem, their assignment to Khaleda Zia’s flight raised security concerns. Their removal was reportedly carried out as a “precautionary measure.”