Sheikh Bashiruddin sought a business licence to establish his own helicopter service company while serving as an adviser in the interim government with ministerial status, an investigation by Aviation Express has found.

Aviation and legal experts say this represents apparent constitutional violations, clear conflicts of interest, and the systematic manipulation of regulators in Bangladesh’s aviation sector.

Bashiruddin initiated steps to enter the aviation business through his privately owned Akij Bashir Group while holding policy authority over the Ministries of Commerce, Textiles and Jute, and later the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, effectively placing him on both sides of the regulatory process.

According to officials at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Akij Bashir Group submitted a “Letter of Intent” on March 2, 2025, seeking approval to establish a “Category B-2” helicopter airline offering scheduled and non-scheduled passenger and cargo services.

The Letter of Intent cited prior helicopter operations through South Asian Airlines Limited and outlined plans to launch a new entity, Akij Bashir Aviation Limited.

Nine days later, Bashiruddin obtained a trade licence on March 11, 2025, in his own name from Dhaka North City Corporation, listing the business scope as “Import, Aviation Service, Export.”

The licence, which bears his photograph, was issued during the same regulatory process governing aviation approvals.

Aviation authorities said the licensing process requires direct engagement between applicants and senior regulators.

After obtaining the trade licence, Bashiruddin joined a meeting virtually with aviation regulators.

On March 18, Akij Bashir Aviation Limited formally applied to CAAB for a “No Objection Certificate,” claiming that pilots had been recruited and office facilities secured. Officials confirmed that the application remains under final verification.

In April, the interim government assigned Bashiruddin additional responsibility as adviser to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, giving him direct policy authority over CAAB, the same regulator assessing his company’s licence application.

“Being in charge of the civil aviation and tourism ministry, the adviser should have refrained from this clear case of conflict of interest,” said Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).

“As disappointing as this is, it is no surprise because this is not the first time the interim government has bedeviled itself by allowing advisers to take advantage of entrusted state power for corporate or private gain,” he added.

“Disillusionment among those who expected good governance from this government is only growing,” Iftekharuzzaman concluded.

When approached by Aviation Express, Bashiruddin said he had owned helicopters long before taking up his advisory role.

“I have had a helicopter for the last 14 years. South Asian Airlines has been managing my helicopter for 14 years,” he said, adding that financial pressure eventually forced him to sell one of his two helicopters.

Defending his actions, Bashiruddin maintained that he formed his company before assuming office.

“For this reason, I decided to form my own company. I did this before becoming an adviser. If anyone wants to blame me, they can do so; I have no objection,” he said.

Bashiruddin also accused, “There is a clear attempt at hatred and character assassination.”

He emphasized that he accepted the advisory role “for the sake of the country,” despite having only three weeks left in office.

Aviation analysts said the sequence represents a textbook governance failure: licensing, Air Operator Certificates (AOC), safety approvals, and route permissions all fall under CAAB and the civil aviation ministry, both institutions subject to Bashiruddin’s policy influence.

Legal experts warned that the arrangement may breach constitutional safeguards meant to prevent self-dealing by public officials.

Supreme Court senior lawyer Shahdeen Malik explained that Article 147 of the Constitution prohibits ministers and minister-equivalent officials from holding—or preparing to hold—profit-making positions while in office, including steps taken through trade licensing.

Article 147(2) states that the remuneration, privileges, and other terms and conditions of service of a person holding such office shall not be varied to their disadvantage during their term.

Article 147(3) adds that no person appointed to such office shall hold any position of profit or take part in the management or conduct of any profit-making company or body—except by virtue of holding the government office itself.

Another senior lawyer, Ishrat Hasan, observed that seeking an aviation licence from a regulator under one’s own ministerial control violates both constitutional principles and internationally recognised conflict-of-interest norms.

Governance specialists said the case exposes systemic weaknesses in interim-government oversight, particularly in highly regulated sectors vulnerable to regulatory capture.

The controversy recalled a recent precedent: in April, the contractor licence of Mohammad Billal Hossain, father of then Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, was cancelled following public scrutiny over conflict-of-interest concerns—a matter later acknowledged by the adviser himself.

TIMELINE: How the licence bid unfolded

November 2024

Sheikh Bashiruddin appointed Adviser to the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Jute and Textiles.

March 2, 2025

Akij Bashir Group submits a Letter of Intent to CAAB seeking approval to launch a Category B-2 helicopter airline. Bashiruddin holds commerce and textiles portfolios at the time.

March 11, 2025

Bashiruddin obtains a trade licence in his own name from Dhaka North City Corporation, listing “Import, Aviation Service, Export.” The licence bears his photograph.

Mid-March 2025

Bashiruddin joins a Flight Safety Regulation meeting with CAAB via video conference as owner of the proposed aviation company.

March 18, 2025

Akij Bashir Aviation Limited applies for a No Objection Certificate from CAAB, claiming pilots and office facilities are in place.

April 2025

Interim government assigns Bashiruddin additional responsibility as Adviser to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism—granting policy oversight over CAAB.

Present

Licence application remains under final regulatory verification.