Recent reports have revealed the involvement of Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority (CAAB) and state-owned airline Biman Bangladesh Airlines employees in illicit gold smuggling and associated criminal networks.
Both entities, however, have unitedly expressed their commitment to the government's unwavering zero-tolerance stance against such activities, ensuring no one evades responsibility in such incidents.
Throughout this year, a notable number of CAAB-Biman personnel embroiled in gold smuggling have been apprehended by various law enforcement agencies.
On April 14, a CAAB driver Salehkuzzaman was detained by APBN alongside the seizure of five gold bars and 50 gold chains.
Similarly, on June 4, Saudi Arabian authorities detained FS Ziaul, a cabin crew member, at Jeddah airport, confiscating a substantial amount of illicit gold.
Prior to these incidents, Biman cabin crew member Ruhul Amin Shubo faced job termination after being caught with illegal gold and currency at Jeddah airport.
Addressing the issue, HazratShahjalal International Airport's Executive Director, Group Captain Kamrul Islam, asserted an unyielding commitment to a zero-tolerance policy against smuggling.
He underlined the collaborative efforts involving airport authorities, customs officials, APBN, and customs detectives to identify involved individuals and prevent any motivation for smuggling. This resolute stance underscores a collective drive to curb these unlawful activities both now and in the future.
Shafiul Azim, the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, has addressed recent and past incidents of smuggling involving Biman employees. He revealed that the airline has taken legal action by filing cases against those responsible for smuggling activities, including a recent case that occurred on Monday. The previous smuggling incident involving Biman employees detained abroad also resulted in a case being filed, with the case being remanded and forwarded to Interpol due to its international nature.
Azim acknowledged the cyclical nature of these incidents, occurring both within the country and abroad. He emphasized the airline's proactive approach to combat smuggling by collaborating with law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally.
The involvement of these agencies is aimed at apprehending the smuggling networks responsible for these activities. Azim expressed confidence that due to the arrests made, there will be a noticeable reduction in such incidents moving forward.