The report said Tk 38,656,100,000 (Tk 3 thousand 865 crore 61 lakh) in surcharge and other duties (VAT and taxes) outstanding to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh for 2022-23 was not shown as Biman's liability. . The huge amount of outstanding loans is not shown as a liability in the financial statements. Since the payment for fuel was made late in the financial year 2022-23, interest accumulated to the tune of Tk 9,703,384,515 (Tk 970 crore 33 lakh 84 thousand 515). It was also not shown as aircraft dues.
The audit directorate said the outstanding employee benefit liability in 2017 was Tk 10.75 billion (Tk 1075 crore). This has also been shown less in the current financial year. Therefore the outstanding amount shown in the financial statements is not being an accurate reflection.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director (MD) Shafiul Azam, speaking to Prothom Alo, said that an international standards company audits Biman. IATA audit is conducted. Biman is not taking funds from anyone. It is paying salaries and allowances regularly, purchasing necessary equipment and paying due installments regularly. This would not be possible if the airlines were not making profits. BFC, BPC, ground handling services are all part of the aircraft, he said.
The people concerned say that even though ground handling is not the direct work of the aircraft, it has been doing this work since independence. This is the main source of income for the airline. But airlines business is running in loss. Unless debts and liabilities are properly reflected in the accounts, the real picture will not emerge.
Kazi Wahidul Alam, a former member of Biman's board of directors, told Prothom Alo, services or businesses outside Biman's core business are not at all incompatible with Biman. But it must be seen whether the loans and liabilities are shown properly or not. The way Biman has shown its profit and loss is not correct. If their dues are shown in the audited balance sheet, the actual profit and loss will be understood.