Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) on Monday signed a two years contract with UK based Company Redline for delivering world-class aviation security services at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).
Air Vice-Marshal Ehsanul Gani Chowdhury, Chairman of CAAB and Paul Mason, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Redline Aviation Security Ltd, signed the deal on behalf of their respective sides in presence of Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashed Khan Menon.
The signing ceremony was held at the CAAB headquarters in the city.
Under the contract, the British company will offer high-level security screening at the HSIA to optimise its international obligations under Annex 17 of the Chicago Convention at a cost of Tk 73.98 crore.
.Redline Aviation Security Ltd was selected from among four overseas security companies recommended by British High Commissioner Alison Blake during a meeting with Bangladesh government officials at the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s office on March 13.
“Redline was awarded two years aviation security services contract to provide a wide range of direct support to the security services at HSIA,” Civil Aviation And Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon told The New Nation on Monday evening.
He said, the British company will also provide advice and training to the staffs of the HSIA and will build them as skilled manpower for the job of world class security screening and improving its standard.
“The company will offer security measures in line with the global best practices and equipment required to be added as per its suggestions,” he added.
Menon said experts of the Redline will start their works at the airport from today (Tuesday). Initially, 29 experts of the company will be deployed at the airport by two or three days.
“We have appointed the company following the advice of the British government and hope that it will withdraw their embargo that imposed for aviation security threats,” he said.
After signing the deal, Paul Mason said that Redline will deploy nearly 40 of its team across a variety of aviation security functions, including manning screening points at passenger terminals and the cargo complex in a bid to offer best aviation security at the Dhaka Airport.
“It will also put in place training for carefully selected airport screeners who will eventually take full control,” he added. When asked, he said, the selection process for this critical contract has been rigorous and we are very pleased to have been the successful bidder.
Redline Commercial Director, Jim Termini has said, “It is an honour to have been selected by the authorities in Bangladesh to provide support in this critical area of significant national importance. Our team sees this role as supporting our colleagues in the Authority and in the airport as partners.
