No plans for Airport Security Force; CAAB protests baseless: Chairman

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan clarified that there are no plans to establish the Bangladesh Airport Security Force, describing protests by its employees against such a move as baseless. 

CAAB officials and employees staged a protest march on Monday and blocked the Dhaka airport highway to press home their six-point demand, including the cancellation of a "proposal" to form the force. However, according to CAAB, there are no plans to form such a force. 

Additionally, the employees called for the structural strengthening of the agency and the promotion of CAAB's self-reliance and sustainable development.

Speaking to The Business Standard today (18 March), the CAAB chairman said, "There is no basis for their protest as the issues they raised are baseless. We have not made any such decisions or plans." 

He added that the situation appeared to be orchestrated, with outside influence likely causing unrest and disrupting order. "No such decision has been made, and we even issued a media rejoinder clarifying the matter," he explained. 

Despite prior communication with officials, protests were initiated without valid reasons. The chairman emphasised that the individuals involved were misled into creating unnecessary chaos.

Regarding security measures, he said armed forces could be deployed if a thorough threat analysis warrants it, but this is a future consideration, not something currently under discussion. "This issue has not been raised in any board meeting or placed on the agenda," he noted.

Responding to a question, he said this is the first instance of such a mistake, and no action would be taken against those involved. However, he warned that strict measures would follow if such protests occurred again.

Md Robin Dewan, security officer of the aviation security department at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, told TBS that a Bangladesh Airport Security Force is being formed, with 70% of personnel sourced from the Air Force and only 30% from civilians. 

He argued that this is unfair, as the airport is a civilian organisation, and the majority of its staff should come from civilian backgrounds. 

This, he said, was the reason for the protest on Monday, during which they presented their demands to the CAAB. 

When asked about activities on Tuesday, Dewan said there was no protest that day. However, when questioned whether the authorities had addressed their demands, he replied, "I don't know about this," suggesting that senior officials should be contacted for further information. Attempts to reach other officials for comment were unsuccessful.