Mohammad Badrul Ahsan :
The withdrawal of the country’s cargo flight ban by UK, Germany and Australia still remains uncertain despite obtaining certification of international standard security system of HSIA mainly due to diplomatic failure, sources said.
They said the security services of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) have in the mean time been upgraded to international level in accordance to the demand of the said countries.
Citing falling security standards in Dhaka, the German government had slapped the embargo towards the end of June on the entry of Bangladesh cargo flights into its country.
Later, a similar ban has also been imposed by the UK and Australia.
But according to the sources, HSIA obtained the RA-3 (EU Aviation Security Validated Regulated Agent) security status after the ban.
“We have upgraded the security system of HSIA to the international standard. Now it is their (diplomats and the high ups of the government) responsibility to pursue for the withdrawal of the ban,” said a high official of Civil Aviation Authority on Saturday preferring anonymity.
“Failure to convince the authorities of concern countries are the sign of diplomatic failure of our country,” he added.
However, Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon has recently said the diplomacy is ongoing to persuade Germany and the UK to lift the ban they imposed earlier on the direct entry of Bangladesh cargo flights into their countries.
“The bans on cargo transport by the UK and Germany are political in nature and talks are on at the diplomatic levels to have them lifted,” he said the media recently
“The government will follow a zero tolerance policy in civil aviation security measures,” the minister added.
Besides, according to the minister, a committee comprising secretary-level officers of various ministries have meet the ambassadors of seven nations to seek explanations as to why despite the fulfillment of all conditions direct cargo flights are yet grounded and they got positive response from them.
“They have informed the counter parts the they gave us RA-3, private German carrier Lufthansa also inspected security arrangements. Despite all that, why does the prohibition continue?” the minister informed.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh authorities heeded a suggestion from the UK and entrusted the security of Shahjalal International Airport to the British firm Redline Assured Security in the last week of March.
As a result, the airport obtained the RA-3 (EU Aviation Security Validated Regulated Agent) security status.
This had led to the minister to declare at the time that cargo flights from Bangladesh had obtained clearance to land in these countries after being routed through a third country.
According to this arrangement, cargo flights from Bangladesh will be re-screened in a third country before entering Australia. In the case of the UK, no screening would be required, the minister had said.
However, conceding that the recent terror attacks would crop up at the talks and these may be cited as security loopholes, the minister said that security had been stepped up at Shahjalal airport as well as at all domestic airports.
Responding to a query from a journalist, he said, “We have beefed up security at the airports. I won’t term it Red Alert. It carries a different connotation.”
The withdrawal of the country’s cargo flight ban by UK, Germany and Australia still remains uncertain despite obtaining certification of international standard security system of HSIA mainly due to diplomatic failure, sources said.
They said the security services of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) have in the mean time been upgraded to international level in accordance to the demand of the said countries.
Citing falling security standards in Dhaka, the German government had slapped the embargo towards the end of June on the entry of Bangladesh cargo flights into its country.
Later, a similar ban has also been imposed by the UK and Australia.
But according to the sources, HSIA obtained the RA-3 (EU Aviation Security Validated Regulated Agent) security status after the ban.
“We have upgraded the security system of HSIA to the international standard. Now it is their (diplomats and the high ups of the government) responsibility to pursue for the withdrawal of the ban,” said a high official of Civil Aviation Authority on Saturday preferring anonymity.
“Failure to convince the authorities of concern countries are the sign of diplomatic failure of our country,” he added.
However, Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon has recently said the diplomacy is ongoing to persuade Germany and the UK to lift the ban they imposed earlier on the direct entry of Bangladesh cargo flights into their countries.
“The bans on cargo transport by the UK and Germany are political in nature and talks are on at the diplomatic levels to have them lifted,” he said the media recently
“The government will follow a zero tolerance policy in civil aviation security measures,” the minister added.
Besides, according to the minister, a committee comprising secretary-level officers of various ministries have meet the ambassadors of seven nations to seek explanations as to why despite the fulfillment of all conditions direct cargo flights are yet grounded and they got positive response from them.
“They have informed the counter parts the they gave us RA-3, private German carrier Lufthansa also inspected security arrangements. Despite all that, why does the prohibition continue?” the minister informed.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh authorities heeded a suggestion from the UK and entrusted the security of Shahjalal International Airport to the British firm Redline Assured Security in the last week of March.
As a result, the airport obtained the RA-3 (EU Aviation Security Validated Regulated Agent) security status.
This had led to the minister to declare at the time that cargo flights from Bangladesh had obtained clearance to land in these countries after being routed through a third country.
According to this arrangement, cargo flights from Bangladesh will be re-screened in a third country before entering Australia. In the case of the UK, no screening would be required, the minister had said.
However, conceding that the recent terror attacks would crop up at the talks and these may be cited as security loopholes, the minister said that security had been stepped up at Shahjalal airport as well as at all domestic airports.
Responding to a query from a journalist, he said, “We have beefed up security at the airports. I won’t term it Red Alert. It carries a different connotation.”
