Two cabin crew members were removed late at night from a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman due to security considerations, according to informed sources.

The decision was taken based on intelligence assessments citing potential security risks and information regarding political affiliations, the sources said.

Tarique Rahman is scheduled to return to Dhaka from London on Thursday. The Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-202 is set to depart from London’s Heathrow Airport for Dhaka on Wednesday evening. Members of Rahman’s family and senior BNP leaders are also expected to be on board.

According to Biman sources, Junior Purser Md. Sawgatul Alam Sawgat and Flight Stewardess Jiniya Islam Jiniya were finalised on Saturday afternoon as cabin crew for the flight. However, following the receipt of an intelligence report late at night highlighting concerns over their political links and possible risks to the security of a VIP passenger, their assignments were cancelled.

They were subsequently replaced by Flight Purser Mostafa and Flight Stewardess Ayat, the airline’s flight services department confirmed.

Intelligence sources said Md. Sawgatul Alam and Jiniya Islam had previously served regularly on flights carrying members of the family of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, particularly Sheikh Selim. They also cited allegations of their close association with leaders of the former Awami League government.

Earlier, on May 2, two cabin crew members—Al Kubrun Nahar Cosmic and Md. Kamrul Islam Bipon—were similarly removed from a flight carrying BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia following intelligence assessments.