Dhaka – Just a day after issuing a promotion order for a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight service manager, the state-run carrier cancelled it amid allegations that the officer lacks the required educational qualifications for the post.
The order, issued on Tuesday morning, promoted Shahnaz Begum from Flight Service Manager to Deputy General Manager (Flight Service). However, a second office order revoked the promotion on Wednesday, according to airline officials.
Beyond academic credentials, Begum has also been accused of improperly extending her service tenure by one year through a change to her date of birth 33 years after she first joined the airline.
Her conduct has reportedly placed undue pressure on subordinates, with claims of nepotism in duty distribution causing operational disruptions and unnecessary complications. Her unprofessional demeanor at Biman’s headquarters, Balaka, is said to be well known within the organisation.
Shahnaz Begum most recently served as Manager of the Flight Service Department and, until recently, as Manager of Planning and Scheduling. During her time in the latter role, she was accused of imposing her whims on cabin-crew scheduling.
Colleagues who did not align with her political views were allegedly punished with odd-hour flights, denied claim-offs, and given insufficient rest periods, while preferred staff received comfortable routes, desirable destinations, and other privileges.
According to records, Shahnaz Begum joined Biman as a flight stewardess in 1989. Her original joining documents listed her date of birth as February 14, 1968, a detail that remained unchanged for 33 years. Yet a document issued in 2021 suddenly recorded her birth date as February 14, 1969, effectively granting her an additional year of service.
It is alleged that, with this extended service period, she sought a higher post despite not formally holding the necessary educational qualifications.
On March 30, Shahnaz Begum was assigned as Manager (Flight Service), but she continued to exert influence over planning and scheduling, sparking a tug-of-war with the newly appointed Manager (Planning and Scheduling), Parvin Sultana Sraboni. Sraboni had been given additional scheduling responsibilities on June 4, alongside her existing role as Chief Purser (Planning and Scheduling).
Shahnaz Begum’s appointment as Manager (Flight Service) also came as a surprise following the early retirement of Ferdausi Masud Rifat, who applied on March 15 and had her request granted on May 21.
In late 2025, Shahnaz Begum was linked to a controversy involving the removal of two crew members from VVIP flights over alleged political disloyalty.
Following that incident, the higher authorities reportedly directed that Begum be reassigned as a line crew member. Instead, she was swiftly placed as Manager (Flight Service), a move in which General Manager Mohiuddin Ahmed is said to have played a favourable role.
A clear example of alleged nepotism surfaced on May 25, 2026, when a Rome-bound flight was delayed by 15 minutes due to a crew member’s error.
The Aircraft Journey Log noted that the delay occurred because airport security found that one crew member’s name had been changed in the General Declaration (GD), and the purser had failed to verify the names beforehand despite being instructed to do so by the Pilot-in-Command.
“ATTN DCS: DEP DELAY DUE LATE ARRIVAL OF CREW IN THE AIRCRAFT. IT HAPPENED BECAUSE WHILE AIRPORT SECURITY CHECK, THE CONCERNED AUTH FOUND ONE OF THE CABIN CREW’S NAME WAS CHANGED IN THE GD. THE PURSER DID NOT CHECK THE NAMES PREVIOUSLY EVEN AFTER THE PIC INST RVCTED HER TO DO SO BEFORE THE SECURITY CHHECK,” reads a note on the flight log.
The flight, carrying 273 passengers, departed over 15 minutes late. However, no disciplinary action was taken against the purser responsible. Flight Purser Al Kubrun Nahar Cosmic was accused of being responsible for the delay.
