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No compromise over airport security: Minister


Published : 30 Apr 2019 08:50 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 08:44 PM

The government is determined to ensure adequate security at all international and domestic airports in the country. Against the backdrop of several incidents that have made all international and domestic airports in the country controversial, the civil aviation and tourism ministry has started installing modern security and safety devices at the airports.

The ministry has also issued strong warning to the officials and employees engaged in ensuring security, telling them that if found negligent to their duties, they will be dealt with severely. State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Md Mahbub Ali, made the statement at a program titled ‘Fire Fighting Exercise 2019’ at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram on Tuesday.

He said, ‘our main aim is to provide better service to the public. We are working to ensure that no passenger is harassed at the airport. In this regard, the state minister urged all the officials and workers to perform their respective duties honestly. Citing strong punishment, he issued a note of warning saying, ‘as our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced zero tolerance to corruption, if anyone is found engaged in corruption, they will not be spared. Our combined efforts will ensure international standard service and security at the airport’.

The present government’s continuous development progress has also changed Shah Amanat International Airport. In continuation, a modern safety device has been set up for security purpose, construction of cargo apron, installation of advanced radar stations, modernization of communication equipment etc, are being established at the airport.

‘To ease passenger movement from the city to airport, a connectivity road from Chattogram city to the airport is under construction. To develop the airport, existing runway is being expanded, parallel taxiway, terminal building expansion and runway overlay work have been taken up’ the state minister informed.
Mahbub also said that for the improvement of passenger service, the airport activity has increased several times. During 2018, different airlines transported 16.93 lakh passengers and 7918 tonnes of cargo through this airport.

‘Compared to 2017, in 2018, passenger and cargo handling increased by 2.8 percent and 7.4 percent respectively at the airport. We are trying to ensure the cleanliness of passenger services at the airport and are taking effective measures to prevent any kind of accidents,’ he went on saying. Shah Amanat International Airport Station Manager, Wing Commander ABM Sarwar E Jahan, presided over the programme while senior officials of Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh and other airport officials were also present.