Two cabin crew members of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight on which BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman will arrive in Dhaka have been removed. They are- junior purser Md Saugatul Alam Saugat, and flight stewardess Jinia Islam. Flight purser Mustafa and flight stewardess Ayat were included in their place.

A source responsible for Biman Bangladesh Airlines confirmed the matter to the media. Tarique Rahman is scheduled to return to Dhaka from London on December 25.

Sources said the decision was taken based on information about political affiliations. The decision was taken after numerous photos of Awami League leaders with the two were published on social media. The two regularly operated flights for Sheikh Selim.

Meanwhile, Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-202 carrying Tarique Rahman is scheduled to depart from London’s Heathrow Airport for Dhaka on December 24 evening. Tarique Rahman’s family members and top BNP leaders will also be on the flight.

Biman sources said the two were removed from their duties due to intelligence reports indicating political affiliations and potential risks to the safety of VIP passengers. Flight purser Mustafa and flight stewardess Ayat were later included in their place, Biman’s flight services department said.

Earlier, on May 2, two cabin crew members, Al Kubrun Nahar Kosmik and Md Kamrul Islam Ripon, were removed from a flight of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia based on an intelligence report for the same reason.