by Asif Showkat Kallol (Dhaka Bureau)
Allegations of regulatory breaches and conflict of interest have surfaced against former civil aviation adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin over the transformation of Beximco Aviation into Akij Bashir Aviation, raising fresh questions about transparency in Bangladesh’s aviation sector.
Documents and testimonies obtained by local media suggest that Captain Gulzar Hossain, former chief operating officer of Beximco Aviation and now chief executive of Akij Bashir Aviation, played a central role in the transition. After surrendering Beximco Aviation’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and hangar allocation in early March 2025, Gulzar reportedly applied for a new No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Akij Bashir Aviation within two weeks.
Former pilots allege that pressure was exerted on employees to resign as Beximco Aviation prepared to shut down. They claim the closure was intended to ease the path for Akij Bashir Aviation to secure regulatory approval.
Questions have also emerged over a 30 December 2024 VIP helicopter flight allegedly conducted without informing the director of flight operations. According to officials, the passenger on that flight was Sheikh Bashir Uddin, who later served as aviation adviser.
Although Beximco Aviation’s hangar allocation reportedly remained valid until June 2025, former employees say Akij Bashir Aviation began operating from the facility months before formal allocation. On-site reporting found helicopters bearing Beximco Aviation registration still inside the hangar alongside Akij Bashir signage.
Sheikh Bashir Uddin has denied knowledge of any irregular use of the hangar and rejected allegations of impropriety.
The controversy comes amid broader scrutiny over Bashir Uddin’s simultaneous roles in aviation policymaking and business interests, including allegations that influence may have been used to facilitate helicopter licensing and operational approvals. No formal findings have yet been announced by regulators.
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The Writer:
Asif Showkat Kallol: Works for a German-based online outlet, The Mirror Asia, as Head of News and is a Contributor, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
