Special Correspondent //

Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will return home from London on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight on Monday.

Although they were supposed to be on duty on that flight, two cabin crew members were removed at midnight. They are Al Kubrun Nahar Kosmik and Md. Kamrul Islam Bipon.

According to airline sources, the decision was taken based on security concerns and allegations of political affiliation.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ BG202 flight will depart from London’s Heathrow Airport for Dhaka on Sunday evening. Khaleda Zia, her family members and top BNP leaders will be on the flight.

As an advance preparation, Chief Purser Nishi, Flight Purser Al Kubrun Nahar Kosmik, Flight Purser Md. The names of Kamrul Islam Bipon and Junior Purser Rifaz were finalized by the relevant unit of Biman’s Flight Service Department. However, due to intelligence information about their political affiliations and potential security risks to VIP passengers, the names of the two were canceled on Friday midnight.

The Flight Service Department confirmed the inclusion of their names and later their removal from the flight. They said that flight purser Duke and flight stewardess Anhara Marjan were sent on the flight at the last minute instead of Cosmic and Bipon.

Biman Bangladesh sources said that intelligence information has revealed that Al Kubrun Nahar Cosmic regularly operated flights for Sheikh Rehana, the sister of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. There are also allegations against him of enjoying government benefits by maintaining close ties with the leader of the fallen Awami League government. He has received 18 show cause notices in his service life. He has been grounded multiple times as punishment.

On the other hand, junior purser Kamrul Islam Bipon is alleged to have been directly involved in various activities of the government party for a long time. He is also one of the initiators of regularly placing flowers at Dhanmondi 32 to celebrate August 15 every year, organizing a friendly football match on Sheikh Kamal’s birthday, and celebrating Sheikh Russell Day at Biman.

Biman General Manager (Public Relations) Bosra Islam said, “I have no information about any of them being removed. Biman’s relevant departments may not assign anyone to duty for various reasons, or there may be rescheduling. This is very normal.”

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