THE man who allegedly tried to hijack a Biman flight was killed in a commando operation at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram on Sunday. Earlier, all the 143 passengers and seven crew members were evacuated safely. The Boeing 737-800, bound for Dubai via Chattogram, was immediately surrounded by security forces when it made an emergency landing there. According to the passengers, the suspected hijacker had tried to go inside the cockpit about 20 minutes after it took-off from Dhaka at 5:13pm. He also fired three shots at the cockpit door but could not get in, quoting the passengers a local media reported.
General Officer Commanding of 24 Infantry Division at Chattogram Cantonment SM Matiur Rahman said the “hijacker” wanted to talk to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as well as his own wife. The GOC also said a para-commando unit of the army, which was on another duty at BNS Issa Khan, was called in around 6:00pm. The commandos led by Holey Artisan hero Lt Col Imrul launched an eight-minute operation in which the armed man was shot, he said. Besides, Air Vice-Marshal Mofidul Haque, who was negotiating with the suspect from the Airport Control Tower, said the suspect introduced himself as Mahadi.
However, the whole nation heaved a sigh of relief after seeing the successful ending of hijack episode. But confusing statements issued by the Ministers and officials concerned could give a wrong message about the government’s success. Air Vice-Marshal M Naim Hassan, Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh said, he would investigate how he boarded the plane with a “firearm”. But State Minister for Civil Aviation Ministry Md Mahbub Ali told that the hijacker was carrying a “toy gun”. Not only that, Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police Md Mahbubor Rahman said it was a “fake pistol”.
What is most important question; how the man could enter the plane with a pistol, fake or original, dodging all security surveillance? We must say the question must be answered by the officials concerned who were responsible for the Airport security.
