Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the loss-making fl ag carrier of Bangladesh, will soon fl oat an international tender to fi nd a strategic partner to take over its management, Dr M. Abdul Momen, Biman’s managing director, was quoted as saying in Gulf News. The airline, which is being incorporated as a public limited company, is also seeking a CEO to spearhead its growth, as it is graduallyreducing its $330m liabilities.

“We have already cut down manpower by a half through a voluntary retirement scheme reducing staff levels from 6,800 to 3,400, which will help us in reducing operating expenses,” he said. “We’ve just formed a company which is under incorporation that will allow us to operate the airline on a commercial basis and free from government bureaucracy.”