Biman launches in-flight magazine Bihanga

Biman Bangladesh Airlines re-launched its in-flight magazine on Tuesday, six years after being suspended.National cricketer Shakib Al Hasan unveiled the magazine at a gala event at a hotel in Dhaka.The magazine that was previously named ‘Diganta’ has now been rebranded as Bihanga, the Bangla word for bird. It will be published bimonthly.India’s MaXposure Media Group (MaXposure) has been contracted to publish the magazine.The maiden issue, containing 72 pages, covers write-ups on culture, heritage, tourism and fashion in Bangladesh and different international cities that Biman flies to.The publication of Diganta, which was published quarterly, was suspended in 2007. The national carrier’s magazine prior to Diganta was named Jatri.The Biman management took an initiative to publish its in-flight magazine after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed displeasure over the in-flight services in July during her return from Belarus.Addressing the function, Shakib hoped that Biman will become more punctual. He also requested the Biman management to continue to contribute to cricket in the country, which Biman suspended last year.The Biman board scrapped two of its four sports teams, including cricket, in January last year after a primary investigation found irregularities regarding free tickets issued to players.“This is a part of our continuous journey to become what the prime minister would say is a world class airlines,” said Kevin John Steele, chief executive officer of Biman.Civil Aviation Minister Faruk Khan and Biman Chairman Air Marshal Jamaluddin Ahmed also spoke.