Dhaka – Biman Bangladesh Airlines has appointed its first female chief executive, Dr. Humayra Sultana, a day after her predecessor was jailed alongside his wife in a criminal case involving the alleged torture of a minor domestic worker.
The government removed Dr. Md. Shafiqur Rahman from the roles of Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on Tuesday. Dr. Sultana, an Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, will serve as MD and CEO on an interim basis until a permanent appointment is made.
Rahman was arrested on Sunday after police accused him and his wife of abusing an 11-year-old girl employed at their Dhaka home. His removal comes just over 15 months after his appointment, which followed a board reconstitution in the wake of the political changes that ousted the Awami League regime.
A veteran of the national carrier, Rahman had been tasked with restoring the airline’s reputation after years of malpractices.
His departure continues a pattern of instability at the top; Biman has not retained a CEO for more than two consecutive years in recent times, cycling through six managing directors in the past seven years.
The airline, which operates a fleet of 19 aircraft along with extensive ground handling and catering services, has seen frequent leadership changes.
Rahman’s own predecessor, former PMO Additional Secretary Zahidul Islam Bhuiyan, was appointed in May 2024.
According to a ministry office order, Dr. Sultana’s assignment is made under the relevant Bangladesh Biman Act. She will hold the additional charge “until a new MD is appointed.”
The case against Rahman unfolded after the father of the 11-year-old domestic worker filed a complaint.
He stated that he had entrusted his daughter to the couple in June 2025 after they promised to support her. After being denied access to her for months, he was summoned on January 31, 2026, and found his daughter with severe injuries, unable to speak properly. The child was subsequently hospitalized.
Alongside Rahman and his wife, two other domestic workers were also arrested in connection with the case. Police have requested the court to keep all accused in custody pending the investigation’s completion.
