Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
The government will enhance security at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka in line with global best practices to prevent harm to aircraft, passengers, and crew, as well as support national security and counter-terrorism policy, officials said.
Under the move, it (government) will sign a deal
with a British company to review and enhance security at the HSIA.
“The government has decided to appoint a British company to improve HSIA’s security system and a deal in this connection will be signed by March 21,” Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon told The New Nation on Saturday night.
He said, the deal will be signed on Monday after completing all formalities including TPP (Technical Project Proposal).
When asked, the minister, however, declined to disclose name of the company.
“Airport security is very important and we want to approach the problem holistically in line with global best practices,” said the Minister adding, “The British Company will be assigned for HSIA’s security up-gradation and it will also impart training to security officials”.
Earlier, a high-powered steering committee held a meeting yesterday morning at the CAAB office to select a company for the job.
A senior CAAB official, preferring anonymity, told The New Nation on Saturday evening that a UK company ‘Redline Assured Security’ is expected to get the contract for security screening at HSIA for two years at a cost of Tk 75 crore.
“The UK Company will assess aviation security in Bangladesh, make review of security and safety procedures, equipment and impart necessary training”, he said.
When asked, he said, the British Company was chosen for their specific expertise in aviation security.
“It will then make recommendations to the government to ensure airport security is world-class ‘gold standard’, and work alongside the government to support the implementation of the recommendations, additional training of security personnel as well as conducting ongoing and regular assessments, he said.
The CAAB official further said that the Company will also identify airport security loopholes and recommend installation of hi-tech equipments for screening air passengers, luggage and freight, explosives, weapons and smuggled goods.
“Advanced imaging technologies are in work at the HSIA but they are not adequate. The Airport Security should be improved with installation of adequate hi-tech screening equipments which have been at work in all airports in developed countries,” he noted.
The CAAB official said that there are security loopholes at sensitive areas in airports, including airport ramp, operational spaces and cargo area where authorized people are allowed to enter.
“But they are entering in these spaces without proper security check up,” he said, adding, “Security screening can be made more efficient by detecting the people and objects that are threats for aviation safety in the country.”
Earlier, Redline and Restrata, two British Company, have primarily been selected for the job to improve airport security from a list of four foreign security companies suggested by the British High Commissioner Alison Blake during a meeting with government high-ups.
The meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office on March 13.
