New entry rules coming at Shahjalal Airport

The government has taken steps to bring in new entry rules at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to boost security. Under the plan, only passengers with valid travel papers and up to two people with them will be allowed inside the airport. The plan also calls for stricter checks on ID and travel documents at the entry points, along with tighter security screening.

These decisions were discussed at the first meeting of the newly reformed National Civil Aviation Security Committee (NCASC), held at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) head office on Thursday (August 6). Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam chaired the meeting. Representatives from the ministry, law enforcement, intelligence agencies, the armed forces, the National Board of Revenue, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and other related bodies took part.

The meeting made several recommendations to raise the airport's overall security to international standards. These include better information-sharing and coordination among intelligence agencies, putting International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) security standards into practice, adding modern security technology and scanning equipment, and updating current security rules. The meeting also stressed getting ready for ICAO's security audit, set to run from October 26 to November 6.

As part of the tighter security, it was recommended that the Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBN) and other forces on duty at Shahjalal's entry points check the ID and travel papers of every passenger and anyone with them before letting them in. The meeting also called for quickly fixing or replacing two under-vehicle scanning systems that are currently out of order. Until then, staff have been told to keep checking vehicles using scanning mirrors instead.

The meeting also stressed strengthening security at the VIP and CIP lounges, making sure security checks follow government protocol, and keeping close watch to stop smuggling. It further recommended signing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between relevant agencies to handle emergencies at all civil airports in the country, setting standing orders for fast deployment of staff and equipment, and taking joint action to control traffic jams, uncontrolled crowds, begging, and illegal luggage wrapping in the airport's landside area. The meeting also discussed keeping up international security standards and stepping up diplomatic efforts to get Bangladesh removed from the European Union's list of high-risk cargo and mail origins.