Increased pay reaches 16 stations, but staff of Chattogram's Shah Amanat airport left out

Although there was an instruction to pay the increased salary under the new pay scale on November 1, the officers and staff of Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram did not receive it. The increased pay was disbursed at 16 of the 17 stations of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), but the staff of Shah Amanat airport were deprived of the benefit.

Expressing anger over the incident, the officers and staff lodged a complaint with the airport director. At the same time, holding the administrative officer's negligence responsible for the non-payment, they demanded disciplinary action against him.

On Monday (November 2) at around 11:30am, about 60 to 70 officers and staff met the airport director, Group Captain Mohammad Nur Hossain.

Md. Hakim Sarkar, general secretary of the Shah Amanat Airport Employees' Association, confirmed the matter. He said that while officers and staff of the country's other stations received the increased pay under the new pay scale, the staff of Shah Amanat airport did not. This has created frustration and anger among the employees.

The employees alleged that due to the negligence of the airport's administrative officer, Kaiser Mohaimen, the necessary documents were not sent to the CAAB headquarters in time. As a result, they did not receive the increased pay at the scheduled time.

Several employees also alleged that the failure to deposit the money required for fixing salaries under the pay scale was another reason for the delay in sending the documents.

Responding to the allegations, Shah Amanat International Airport administrative officer Kaiser Mohaimen said that 319 files of employees have been sent to the headquarters. Of them, 300 have been approved; the remaining 19 files will be approved within a day or two and everyone will receive the salary together.

He said the other airports have fewer staff, so they were able to obtain approval quickly and receive their pay. But Shah Amanat has more manpower; not everyone's files have been approved. That is why the director has said the pay will be released together once everyone's files are approved.

Airport director Group Captain Mohammad Nur Hossain said efforts are under way to resolve the matter.