SM Mizanur Rahman :A British company will be given the charge of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s (HSIA) security within March 20, said Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed.”The British company, in association with the local security agencies, will work together at HSIA to provide foolproof security within March 20,” he told journalists after a meeting with British High Commissioner Alison Blake at his secretariat office on Monday.Earlier on March 8, the British government banned cargo on passenger flights from Dhaka to the UK until further notice as part of a ‘set of interim measures’.Tofail hoped that the ban on UK-bound air cargo will go soon as works were underway for major overhauling of the security systems of airport.He added service contractor would work jointly with the Bangladesh’s airport security officials to check any kind of crime in the airport.Blake was also present during the briefing when she thanked the Minister and said security concerns required her government to impose the temporary ban. However, she expressed the hope that the issues of air cargo ban would be solved soon.Officials familiar with the process said that a foreign company of international repute was likely to be appointed as the security service contractor, which would work in liaison with the security agencies deployed at the airport.When contacted, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon told The New Nation on Monday that to strengthen security measures at the airport they are communicating with a foreign company.”A foreign company will be appointed to train the officials of airport. But it has not been finalised yet. The foreign company will be assigned to supervise and provide training to the concerned officials of the airport for a period of six months on a temporary basis,” he said. He said the company will be appointed from a list provided by the British delegation by March 20.However, a seven-member steering committee, headed by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, has been formed to oversee further improvements to the security regime at HSIA. In the wake of British government ban, after removing the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), the government on Monday also replaced the secretary of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry.Civil Sviation Secretary Khorshed Alam Chowdhury has been made a member of the Planning Commission while Planning Secretary SM Golam Faruk has been made Civil Aviation Secretary. Earlier on Sunday, Air Vice-Marshal Ehsanul Gani Chowdhury was made the new Chairman of CAAB. He replaced Air-Vice Marshal M Sanaul Huq.Recent security assessments of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport found that some international security requirements were not being met, the UK government said in a notice issued on March 8. Airlines carrying cargo between Bangladesh and the UK on indirect routes are being asked to ensure that it is re-screened before its final leg into the UK, according to the UK Department for Transport.Earlier, the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved a project worth Tk 90 crore to purchase modern ground handling equipment as per the directives given by the British authorities.Meanwhile, business leaders, including BGMEA, expressed concern over the suspension of carrying cargo on direct flights from Dhaka to the UK by the British government.They urged the government to initiate an immediate government-level negotiation to have the restriction relaxed.The country’s readymade garments export will be badly affected with the restriction as the UK is an important market for Bangladesh readymade garments. The country exports worth US$ 3 billion annually to the European country.The BGMEA urged the government to take immediate steps for fulfilling the international security requirements at the country’s international airports within the March 31 deadline as given by the British government. Some 10-15 per cent of RMG goods are exported through air shipments annually, sources said.
