Staff Reporter :
In ensuring security of all concerned, the passengers will have to produce their identity cards along with photographs at the airports before boarding on a domestic flight in Bangladesh, in the wake of escalating terror threat.
According to a circular issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and signed by its Chairman Air Vice Marshal Ehsanul Gani Chowdhury on June 30 instructed all local airlines to issue boarding passes for any domestic routes to passengers only after checking out their photo identity cards.
The circular said, “passengers travelling by air on domestic and/or international route must produce their photo identity card at the check-in counter along with the ticket”.
The passengers traveling by air on domestic flight must produce photo identity card at the check-in-counter along with the ticket. Use of photo identity card is also mandatory for the international route.
National Identity Card (NID), passport, driving license, ID cards of educational institutions or workplaces with a photograph attached would be acceptable at the counters, the circular added.
A passenger needs passport to travel on an international flight but earlier he or she can collect boarding passes by showing only tickets for the domestic routes.
A CAAB spokesperson said they issued the order for ensuring full proof security to all passengers on domestic routes. The minor children being attended by adults can travel without photo ID, he said.
All local airlines, including national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines, have already implemented the order as they are not letting anyone onboard without photo ID.
Biman’s Spokesperson Shakil Meraz said: “We enforced the order at all our domestic check-in counters.”
However, the CAAB is yet to offer any alternative directions for those who do not have an ID card.
As per the new rule, a passenger will not be able to board on a domestic flight if the ticket was not purchased under his/her name.
As the passengers of international flights have to carry their passports, the new rule primarily applies to the domestic passengers.
