Two cabin crew members have been removed and replaced from a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight scheduled to carry BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, due to security considerations, according to Biman sources.
The decision was taken on late Saturday following intelligence assessments that flagged potential security risks, including information related to the crew members' alleged political affiliations, the sources said.
Tarique is scheduled to return to Dhaka from London on December 25. The Biman flight in question, BG-202, is set to depart London Heathrow Airport for Dhaka the previous evening.
According to airline sources, Junior Purser Md Sawgatul Alam Sawgat and Flight Stewardess Jiniya Islam Jiniya were finalised yesterday afternoon as cabin crew members for the flight.
However, later that night, authorities received an intelligence report raising concerns about their political links and possible security implications for a VIP passenger, prompting the cancellation of their assignments.
They were subsequently replaced by Flight Purser Mostafa and Flight Stewardess Ayat, confirmed the airline's flight services department.
