On 23rd July 2007, Biman Bangladesh Airlines became the largest Public Limited Company in Bangladesh. Although Biman has been made into a PLC, the company still struggles the stigma of a poorly managed and maintained airline which has continuously failed to meet passenger expectations and flight schedules. Here's what Biman has been-and continues to be- on a flight to Middle East and Singapore from Dhaka.

My childhood fantasies in plain English were strange. I always imagined myself getting lost in the airport and all the mischief I would be upto till my father, after a frantic search which would include a lot of walkie-talkies, going up and down the escalators and security guards running, find me in one of the remote part of the huge airport. Imagine my surprise then when I entered the Zia International airport. I was baffled. Where would I get lost in here? I mean even if I try my best I can't get lost in this small two-storied place. So there I was sitting helplessly in the waiting room of the airport, my back resting on one of the hardest chair I ever sat on to. I noticed the lady sitting right infront of me clad in solid black burkha that covered her from head-to-toe. She was trying in vain to open a canned coke. I felt uneasy. And two seconds later I new I had every reason to feel uneasy. She opened the can with such force that the coke whooshed out and guess where it landed. Yes right on my new jeans! I knew she would say sorry so I was mentally preparing my speech of forgiving her. But I watch her happily sipping the drink and relishing every minute of it. The whole part where my shoes and jeans got wet because of her accident went unnoticed, and if my jeans was to the new home for the ants tonight then surely that would be my responsibility. Fuming I went to the washroom. My mistake. The minute I opened the door I heard chaos and watch children running. Now why you would want to run in such a small place that too being in a washroom which smelt every bit unusual was beyond my understanding power. Maybe that is what you do when the airport fails to provide you with any other entertainment. Anyways so there I was trying to squeeze my way past this crowd of mothers and kids and make way to the basin. It was fun knowing that these kids tired of waiting for their plane found something to do, even if it was in the washroom and that too by spraying each other with the toilet hose. On my way out I hear a kid indignantly telling her mother that he forgot to flush. I wasn't exactly surprised when I hear the mother saying 'it's alright you don't have to do it, lets just go!'

She surely missed the bold writing which screamed 'keep the washroom clean'.

I was having enough of my inside airport experience and I really wanted to get away from this place and take off. My other childhood fantasy was to catwalk that long stretch from the waiting room till I reach my terminal. I would watch movies where passengers kept walking and walking. So I took my luggage and started after my parents. We walked maybe for 3 minutes and that was it. Even before I realized, my special minutes of catwalking were over and I was at the terminal. This airport surprised me even if not for the best. Through the transparent sheet of glass I stare at Biman airways. It looked huge compared to the tiny me and I could not wait to get inside. Lucky for me I had the window seat and once aboard I almost ran to my seat. The usual jostling and chaos continued till everyone was safely seated and belted. The minute the plane took off I see the washroom light switched on indicating that there were people inside. I was amazed! Didn't' I just see these people using the airport washroom before they took off? Human bladder is really intriguing! Sighing I take my Harry Potter book out and start reading.

Amidst a crowd which included crying babies, complaining mothers and drinking men whose only aim was to get as many free beers as they could, I silently ate my lunch. The food was good and I was happy. The stewardess' were great too and the air-hostesses' endured all the nonsense that the passengers threw on them. Surprisingly, they were more worried about some apparent 'influential' passengers in the economy class than us, commoners who unfortunately paid the same amount (or perhaps more) fare than the rich uncles and aunties. It was quite strange to see that while passengers in the third row were jumping up and down (after frantic calls for the airhostess) for a glass of juice or water, the stewards were still busy supplying gallons of juices to, surprise, surprise, the same old 'influential' people.

You would think this airline might have a lot of complaints in its complaint book. Sadly, you are mistaken. The airline wouldn't give any complaint book upon request. Neither would it make any special complaint card available upon request. And if you would like to call the flight executive (or chief purser as it is called), you would have to wait for almost forever before someone comes running and says there isn't much they can do to help. However, things are much more different if you happen to be the son or daughter, relative or distant relative or a simple no-body who knows 'somebody' in the political scene. Just a reference would send a frantic signal, this time among the cabin crew and you can be ensured of a true 'home in the air' for the next hours of your flight duration.
If on the other hand, you happen to be a no-body and know many other no-bodies too, then you would probably be seated in a chair which has damaged hand rests. Such is the problem with these hand rests, that the internal wires may stick out from inside the hand rests and may tickle you for a good laughter or so you may imagine it to be. Not bad actually, considering the fact that there is virtually no in-flight entertainment (apart from a headphone which doesn't seem to work) and a mini screen which shows a movie that you have probably watched at least ten times before.

Sadly, this is Biman. Our national airline. Although new aircrafts have been ordered (the new PLC looks very ambitious), the question lies about the actual change of management. Has Biman really become a PLC or is it another myth that waits to be busted by another new board which may come over in the future? As a passenger, can I seriously echo all other passengers' words and ask one common question? What is really the future of Biman?