Working in Bangladesh
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Asia
Working in Bangladesh
Firstly, living in Bangladesh isn't easy, a country with very little entertainment, largescale poverty and absolute chaos. They recently had massive protest and riots in which police shot the student protestors (in the head), resulting in the deaths of more than 200 people as well as the resignation and susequent fleeing the country by the then Prime minister. During this time there were curfews , which many did not obey and TOTAL internet blackouts where the networks were shut down by the government. The tap water is occasionaly brown and not drinkable, expect frequent powercuts as well. During the rainy season frequent flooding.
Now on to actually flying, There are basically 3 airlines in Bangladesh, Biman (The national carrier) and US-Bangla (Which also own a subsidiary called Air Astra) and Novo Air. US-Bangla is the biggest private airline in Bangladesh flying ATR72, B737-800 and Airbus A330's. They also employ a fair amount of expatriates. However the treatment of the crew is not even close to been acceptable. You will receive dailly rosters, at best a roster for up to 3 days, making it impossible to plan anything. The basic contract can vary between 2 months on and 2 weeks off, or 1 month on, 1 week off or something approximating this. There is FOC travel on the US Bangla network which is basically SE asia and the middle east. Company provide accomodation on a single apartment or twin sharing basis depending on fleet and avaiability, and transport to and from work. They also pay for utilities. Do bear in mind there are no benefits such as loss of licence insurance, medical benefit or pension fund. The company have a total disregard for FTL and several other key safety aspects that are acceptable in Bangladesh but would not be in any other country.
Payment is another issue. The amount of pay is split in to 2 portions a bank portion and a cash portion. Approcimately USD $3000 is converted in to their local currency (Taka) and banked in to a local bank account. This is what is your "Öfficial""declared pay and what the company pay tax on. According to the currency regulations you can only remit 80% of that to your home country. Should you want to take out the rest then it's a cash withdrawal and off to the money changer. Money changer rates are approcimately 5% worse than the bank rate. The banking system is crazy, you need around 10 pieces of paper and bank forms to do your remittance which means a monthly visit to the office to collect the paperwork then a visit (usually more than an hour) in the bank.. Official Remittance is only allowed through the bank.
The rest of your pay is paid CASH monthly. It's totally undeclared with no pay slip, so how you get it back to your own country is your problem. Salary payment dates are variable, meaning no set date for the bank portion or cash portion. Even though the contract says 12 working days (which can be up to the 18th of the month) it frequently comes late even as late as the 25th., but no one is able to tell you what date it will be paid on. Occasionaly it is banked directly in to your home bank account but that too is a hit and miss affair, the decision belongs to the company and again no one can tell you until it happens which mode of payment you will receive.
When you reach Bangladesh you will need to do the CAAB air law, oral exam , and medical, as well as a plethora of company classes (CRM, DG, Safety etc). The whole process can take anything from 1 - 6 months according to availability of CAAB FOI's, aircraft and instructors. "Survial allowance"of between USD$80-100 is given until you get online. Apparently the earlier expatriates were not paid for the 1st month and the allowance started on month 2 onwards. I believe this has been changed now.
Crew are required to pay their own simulator to keep their licences current, if you want the company to re-imburse you then you need to give 6 months notice or pay the company back. The contract is 1 month notice which works both ways. So far the company has done exactly that, they have given crews 1 month notice (out of the blue) that their services are no longer required.
Civil Aviation regulations allow you to fly up to 120 hrs in 28 days. As an expat they will use you as much as they can, but try to keep you below 80-85 hrs as they pay more when you cross the threshold. Plenty of flying but be assured when the company doesn't need you they will give you a goodbye letter with 1 months notice. It's actually a good place to be to collect hours to move on to your next job.
Now on to actually flying, There are basically 3 airlines in Bangladesh, Biman (The national carrier) and US-Bangla (Which also own a subsidiary called Air Astra) and Novo Air. US-Bangla is the biggest private airline in Bangladesh flying ATR72, B737-800 and Airbus A330's. They also employ a fair amount of expatriates. However the treatment of the crew is not even close to been acceptable. You will receive dailly rosters, at best a roster for up to 3 days, making it impossible to plan anything. The basic contract can vary between 2 months on and 2 weeks off, or 1 month on, 1 week off or something approximating this. There is FOC travel on the US Bangla network which is basically SE asia and the middle east. Company provide accomodation on a single apartment or twin sharing basis depending on fleet and avaiability, and transport to and from work. They also pay for utilities. Do bear in mind there are no benefits such as loss of licence insurance, medical benefit or pension fund. The company have a total disregard for FTL and several other key safety aspects that are acceptable in Bangladesh but would not be in any other country.
Payment is another issue. The amount of pay is split in to 2 portions a bank portion and a cash portion. Approcimately USD $3000 is converted in to their local currency (Taka) and banked in to a local bank account. This is what is your "Öfficial""declared pay and what the company pay tax on. According to the currency regulations you can only remit 80% of that to your home country. Should you want to take out the rest then it's a cash withdrawal and off to the money changer. Money changer rates are approcimately 5% worse than the bank rate. The banking system is crazy, you need around 10 pieces of paper and bank forms to do your remittance which means a monthly visit to the office to collect the paperwork then a visit (usually more than an hour) in the bank.. Official Remittance is only allowed through the bank.
The rest of your pay is paid CASH monthly. It's totally undeclared with no pay slip, so how you get it back to your own country is your problem. Salary payment dates are variable, meaning no set date for the bank portion or cash portion. Even though the contract says 12 working days (which can be up to the 18th of the month) it frequently comes late even as late as the 25th., but no one is able to tell you what date it will be paid on. Occasionaly it is banked directly in to your home bank account but that too is a hit and miss affair, the decision belongs to the company and again no one can tell you until it happens which mode of payment you will receive.
When you reach Bangladesh you will need to do the CAAB air law, oral exam , and medical, as well as a plethora of company classes (CRM, DG, Safety etc). The whole process can take anything from 1 - 6 months according to availability of CAAB FOI's, aircraft and instructors. "Survial allowance"of between USD$80-100 is given until you get online. Apparently the earlier expatriates were not paid for the 1st month and the allowance started on month 2 onwards. I believe this has been changed now.
Crew are required to pay their own simulator to keep their licences current, if you want the company to re-imburse you then you need to give 6 months notice or pay the company back. The contract is 1 month notice which works both ways. So far the company has done exactly that, they have given crews 1 month notice (out of the blue) that their services are no longer required.
Civil Aviation regulations allow you to fly up to 120 hrs in 28 days. As an expat they will use you as much as they can, but try to keep you below 80-85 hrs as they pay more when you cross the threshold. Plenty of flying but be assured when the company doesn't need you they will give you a goodbye letter with 1 months notice. It's actually a good place to be to collect hours to move on to your next job.
