Govt to appoint security contractors at Dhaka airport

airport

The government has decided to appoint security service contractors of international quality at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by March 20.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told the reporters after holding a meeting with the British High Commissioner Alison Blake at his office on Monday afternoon.

The minister said: “We will appoint the service conductors by March 20 as a fast solution to the security problem at the airport.”

The British government on March 8 put an embargo on direct air cargo shipment from Dhaka on grounds of security concern.

The Biman is the lone ground handling operator at the Dhaka airport.

The government formed the high-powered seven-member committee for the improvement of overall security management and development of cargo complex facilities at the Dhaka airport.

Besides, a meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) with Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon in the chair on Sunday.

Sources at the meeting told the Dhaka Tribune that they recommended improvement of security management and major overhauling of cargo complex on short-, mid- and long-term basis.

If Bangladesh fails to meet the UK’s requirements on cargo facilities and airport security by March 31, the UK may impose a ban on passenger aircraft from Bangladesh.

After this sanction on cargo, the state-run Biman is losing around Tk50 lakh per flight. Biman earns Tk100cr from cargo flights yearly.

Source: Dhaka Tribune