Online Desk: Travel agencies owe Tk 12.30 crore to Biman Bangladesh Airlines, State Minister for Civil Aviation M Mahbub Ali said in the parliament today while replying to a tabled question of Awami League MP Habibar Rahman.

The state minister also said that various cargo agents owe Tk 1.68 crore to Biman.

He said that initiatives were taken to recover the dues but to no avail as some travel agents went bankrupt and were in liquidation process.

“No office or presence was found at the addresses given by many agents. Cases against some agents are ongoing,” Mahbub Ali said.

Meanwhile, in response to a question from AL MP Mozaffar Hossain, Environment Minister Shahab Uddin said that the amount of forest land in the country is currently 25.75 lakh hectares.

In response to a question from Haji Selim, Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said that the number of landless families in the country now is 2.91 lakh, and 2.96 lakh families have been rehabilitated.

He told the parliament that the rehabilitation program for remaining landless families is ongoing.