Love, lies and layovers: Biman air hostesses accused of romance scam
In a scandal that’s soaring higher than a jumbo jet, two Biman Bangladesh Airlines cabin crew members are now at the center of a sensational love, lies, and luxury loot drama, accused of running a romance racket across international skies, preying on wealthy business class passengers with promises of marriage, only to vanish with cash, gold, iPhones, and compromising videos.
The accused: Mst Maury and Khadija Sultana Shimu, flight attendants known among colleagues not just for their in-flight charm, but allegedly for their off-duty con game.
Both women, close friends and frequent crewmates, are now being investigated for allegedly honey-trapping, blackmailing, and extorting high-profile men under the guise of love, using Biman’s uniform as a golden ticket to trust, intimacy, and ultimately, theft.
“I like to change the test”
The bombshell came in a written complaint filed by Nasir Uddin, a Bangladeshi businessman based in Qatar, with Biman’s Managing Director and the Civil Aviation Authority.
Nasir claims he met Maury in October 2024 at a luxury hotel in Doha, where she introduced herself as a Biman crew member and quickly initiated a romantic connection. “She said she wanted a serious relationship,” he said. “Next thing I knew, she was on my arm at the beach, asking me to shop for her.”
The romance escalated, or so he thought. Maury allegedly flew into his life repeatedly, manipulating Biman’s scheduling system to land flights to Qatar, London, and Dhaka, always ensuring she crossed paths with her target.
But the fairytale ended with a cold, cruel twist.
On August 7, during a hotel meeting in Dhaka, Maury allegedly dropped a bombshell: “I don’t stay in a relationship with one person for more than two months. It’s better to change the test.”
And just like that, she blocked him.
“She left, and I was shattered,” Nasir told Jago News. “But it wasn’t just emotional damage. She took an iPhone 16 in pink, gifts, and my dignity. Now I’m being threatened by her other boyfriend, Ryan, who calls me to warn me to stay silent.”
Nasir claims Maury and Shimu operated as a tag-team of temptation, using their access to elite passengers and insider knowledge of flight routes to run their scam across continents.
“She and Shimu are using Biman’s image to lure professionals, doctors, executives, expats. They’re not cabin crew. They’re con artists in uniform,” he said.
Maury, however, denies everything. “He proposed to me, not the other way around,” she claimed. “When I saw he drinks too much and talks nonsense, I cut contact. Now he’s trying to ruin me.”
Blackmail, gold, and a broken engagement
While Maury allegedly played the flirty flirt, Shimu is accused of a more calculated game, marriage baiting and blackmail.
Omar Faruk Chowdhury, a senior official at a private airline, filed a criminal case in Dhaka court on July 20, accusing Shimu of embezzling Tk 21.7 lakh, including Tk 1.62 crore in wedding expenses, Tk 4 lakh in cash, and a diamond ring worth Tk 1.5 lakh, all under the false promise of marriage.
The couple met on Facebook in 2024, and their relationship deepened mid-air. “I flew business class many times just to see her,” Omar said. “She promised to marry me on my birthday, September 25, and I gave her the ring. Then she said I had to pay for the entire wedding first.”
He paid. But when he asked for a date, Shimu and her mother demanded 10 bhori of gold and more cash. When he refused, she ghosted him.
“She started asking for intimate photos and videos,” Omar revealed. “Later, she tried to blackmail me using those clips. I became a victim of fraud, emotionally, financially, and personally.”
A court has now ordered the Uttara West Police Station to investigate, and Omar has also filed a formal complaint with Biman.
Biman in denial, but action looms
For years, whispers have circulated about cabin crew exploiting their access to wealthy passengers. But fear of stigma kept victims silent, until now.
ABM Rawshan Kabir, Biman’s General Manager (Public Relations), confirmed: “We’ve received complaints against both Maury and Shimu. A preliminary probe is underway. If proven, departmental and legal actions, including termination, will follow.”
But when Jago News tried to reach Biman Managing Director Shafiqur Rahman for comment on September 1, he didn’t answer his phone. Messages on WhatsApp went unreplied.
A sky-high scandal with ground-level consequences
As the investigation heats up, questions swirl: How long has this in-flight romance racket been running?
Did Biman ignore red flags due to “image concerns”? And most importantly, who else is on their list?
With photos, videos, flight logs, and financial records submitted as evidence, authorities say this may be just the beginning.