DHAKA: Customs have alleged they have been barred from searching an aircraft at Shahjalal International Airport on information that there is gold in it.
CAAB stopped the customs officials from searching the plane of Singapore Airlines on Tuesday night, according to Assistant Customs Commissioner Md Shahiduzaman Sarker.
The airport’s Director Group Captain MH Zakir Hasan has denied the allegation.
The customs officials were barred because they did not follow rules to search an aircraft, he claimed.
There have been a number of gold hauls at Bangladesh’s main airport in past few years.
A team of customs officials went to search the aircraft when it touched down the airport at around 10:30pm.
Sarker, who was in the team, said they had been tipped-off that there was a ‘large’ number of gold bars in the aircraft.
“Our source was certain that there were at least 100 gold bars in the flight SQ-446 of Singapore Airlines. We were prepared to even look into the engine to find the bars,” he said.
“When we were about to board the aircraft, civil aviation officials stopped us citing security reasons,” he said.
Sarker alleged many from the CAAB were ‘involved with the smuggling of the gold consignment’.
He also said he suspected that the ‘gold bars’ had already been smuggled.
According to him, CAAB had not responded to a letter asking why they stopped customs officials from searching an aircraft on Nov 3.
He said customs officials had seized gold from even under seats and toilets a number of times.
The airport’s Director Hasan said there are some rules to search an aircraft.
“For the sake of security, those entering a plane will have to register their names with the security official and no-one is allowed to board an aircraft without a body search,” he said.
