Bangladesh to hire British company for Dhaka airport security revamp

The government has decided to appoint a British company to improve Shahjalal International Airport’s security system following a UK ban on all cargo flights from Dhaka.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 15 March 2016, 03:39 PM
Updated : 15 March 2016, 03:39 PM

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said on Monday that the appointment would be made by Mar 20.

He said a meeting was held on Sunday with senior officials including the British High Commissioner in Bangladesh to crank up airport security.

“The UK has named certain companies to assist in the training and supervision work. They said the security enhancement work would meet standards if any of those companies were given the job.”

The UK banned all direct cargo flights from Dhaka on Mar 8.

In a web post of the UK’s Department of Transport, it said some of the international security requirements were not being met at the Shahjajal International Airport.

Three months ago, Australia had similarly barred cargo from Bangladesh.

When asked if the hiring of a foreign company would create complications, Menon said, “We are not giving them access to everything.”

“We will utilise their service for six months perhaps. After that it may extend,” he said.

The government, he added, had no plans to make the arrangement permanent.