Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Kevin Steel on Tuesday cleared all ambiguity centering his resignation claiming that he handed resignation in December last giving four months of notice.

"I handed in my resignation in December 2013, giving four months notice, and my final departure is on or before 17 April 2014," he said in a letter for journalists.

In the letter, Kevin wrote he has resigned on medical grounds. "About 4-5 months ago, after coming to Bangladesh I contracted TB, and also contracted a virus that caused a TIA, which is a mild stroke," he said.

None of these illnesses were present when I joined Biman, Kevin said adding this means I am not able to work a full working week, let alone the 70-80 hours a week that I have been working.

Secondly, Kevin said he has received full support from both the Biman Chairman and the Biman Board. "Nothing the Board have said or done has in any way contributed to my resignation, which is purely on medical grounds," he said.

"One of what we have achieved so far would have been possible without their unqualified support. So please disregard anything you may hear to the contrary, they have been fully supportive in the past, in the present, and the future," Kevin requested.

The outgoing CEO of the national flag carrier expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister and Secretary for their full support and encouragement during his
assignment here.

"I am very sad to be leaving the job only half done, but I will be doing whatever I can to ensure Biman does become a world class, profitable airline, both before I go, and after I leave," he said.

He confirmed that he is not leaving to move to any other job. "I am just going to be moving back to see more of my family and friends in the UK," he said.

Mr. Kevin, a former high official of British Airways, was appointed first-ever foreign managing director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on March 18, 2013 for two years.

BBN/SSR/AD-25Mar14-9:26 pm (BST)