Two security personnel removed from duty as passenger injured: CAAB chair
He said that the security personnel were sufficiently polite, but they needed to be even more polite
Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), said that two security personnel were removed from their duties at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport following an incident where Norwegian expatriate of Bangladeshi origin, Saeed Uddin, was injured.
He said the investigation committee submitted a report. The committee conducted a thorough investigation, and based on its findings, the security personnel were sent back to their respective forces, and further investigation is ongoing.
The CAAB chairman said these during a press conference today (16 January) at the CAAB office in Dhaka regarding the progress of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
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He said that the security personnel were sufficiently polite, but they needed to be even more polite. Passengers, too, need to behave more tolerably.
However, he did not disclose the security personnel's identities.
He said currently, 24 organisations are working at the airport, all collaborating on security measures. None of them are enemies of each other. However, if anyone makes a mistake in their duties, action will be taken against them. If any allegations are raised against someone, they are being investigated and will continue to be.
"We are not showing leniency to anyone," he added.
At the press conference, the CAAB chairman also spoke to journalists about ongoing projects at Shahjalal International Airport's third terminal, Sylhet Airport, Cox's Bazar Airport, Jashore Airport, the partially operational Bogura Airport, and Saidpur Airport.
He said that all ongoing projects, except for Sylhet Airport, will be completed this year.
He said plans to commence operations at the third terminal by the end of this year, adding that 99% of the work on the terminal is complete. The apron in front of the terminal has also been finished and will be ready for use soon.
Some work remains on the ceiling and boarding bridges at two corners of the terminal, which is expected to be completed by March, he added.
He said, "We plan to inaugurate the terminal within this year, at any cost. As you know, a significant amount of money has been invested here—$2.1 billion, which we borrowed from JICA, with some additional funding from the government. If everything goes according to plan, we will begin operations in October. If not in October, we will start in November, no matter what."
In response to a journalist's question about the design of the third terminal's parking area, he said, "The car parking for the terminal has not been placed in the ideal location. It has been positioned at the front. If it weren't at the front, the building's aesthetic appeal could have been enhanced. However, this may have been done due to a lack of space."
He further said, "Discussions with a Japanese company regarding the operations and maintenance of the third terminal will be held soon. We will not compromise on any aspect of this project."
In response to another journalist's question about removing the APBn from the airport, he said, "There is no issue with the APBn. They are performing their duties where they are supposed to. Their primary responsibility is outside the airport. When they were assigned to the airport in 2010, it was for that reason. Not just the APBn, but Customs, Ansar, Immigration Police, and AVSEC are all fulfilling their respective assigned responsibilities."
