AIRPORT SECURITY MUST BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST

We are dismayed that, at a time when security at airports all over the world are a topmost priority, when it comes to our own Hazrat Shahjalal Airport there are still many gaps to fill. A survey done by a team of experts has revealed that certain recommendations given by a previous survey last April (2019) were still not fully implemented, thus leaving airport security unnecessarily vulnerable. There can be no excuse for such tardiness when it comes to a crucial issue such as airport security.

According to the latest survey report, conducted by a team consisting of airport intelligence, civil aviation and fire service officials, at present, the airport still does not have enough firefighting equipment, floodlights and adequate CCTV coverage. This is really an unacceptable lapse in airport security management. At a time when the government is planning a major extension of the airport, it is surprising that essential measures to make the existing airport more secure have not been taken.

We hope that the latest survey will prompt the aviation authorities to take urgent steps to implement the recommendations. They include installing cameras in the asphalt in four gates so that vehicles can be scanned from underneath, preventing people from moving along the embankment at Baunia, prohibiting the use of lasers by the public that can impair the vision of pilots when they are flying the planes, installing night vision CCTV cameras at specific points with proper monitoring and illuminating certain dark areas of the airport.

It is vital that the airport authorities tighten their belts and make sure that all measures recommended by the survey report are implemented with professionalism and speed. As we have seen in some of the other operations of the airport such as cleanliness and cargo handling, there is much to be done before we can say that this airport is of international standard. This is mainly due to lack of maintenance and supervision. It is therefore of utmost importance that security measures be implemented by efficient, committed personnel with strict monitoring by the relevant authorities. Airport security is far too important an issue to be procrastinating on.