DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has finally approved the four airports security plan, including Shahjalal and Shah Amanat, at a cost of TK 3 billion to prevent gold smuggling.
The decision follows repeated haul of smuggled gold at the Dhaka and Chittagong airports over the past two years.
The project aims at strengthening security arrangements at the Shahjalal and Shah Amanat International Airports together with those of Jessore and Syedpur airports.
“The project has been taken up to ensure greater take-off and landing safety and prevent smuggling,” Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told the press after the meeting.
The project – Bangladesh Airports Safety and Security System Improvement – is to be completed by June 2017.
The project report says the airports are managing with 25-year-old radars since flight management had not been upgraded, despite growing passenger traffic, keeping pace with economic growth.
“In addition, a comprehensive security system will be installed to prevent the smuggling of gold and other commodities,” the report says.
Hand-held metal and explosives detectors would be bought. “This will make air services more people-oriented and prevent smuggling,” adds the report.
