Bangladesh clears Tk 3bn airport security plan to stop gold smuggling

Security is being tightened in Bangladesh’s four airports, including Shahjalal and Shah Amanat, at a cost of Tk 3 billion to prevent gold smuggling.

The project was approved at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday.

The decision follows repeated haul of smuggled gold at the Dhaka and Chittagong airports over the past two years.

The project aims at strengthening security arrangements at the Shahjalal and Shah Amanat International Airports together with those of Jessore and Syedpur airports.

“The project has been taken up to ensure greater take-off and landing safety and prevent smuggling,” Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told the press after the meeting.

The project – Bangladesh Airports Safety and Security System Improvement – is to be completed by June 2017.

The project report says the airports are managing with 25-year-old radars since flight management had not been upgraded, despite a growing passenger traffic, keeping pace with economic growth.

“In addition, a comprehensive security system will be installed to prevent the smuggling of gold and other commodities,” the report says.

Hand-held metal and explosives detectors would be bought. “This will make air services more people-oriented and prevent smuggling,” adds the report.

Shahjalal development costs go up

The infrastructure development cost of the Shahjalal airport has risen from Tk 1.48 billion to Tk 5.62 billion.

The government had taken up the project to make the country’s main airport suitable for Boeing 777, 747 and Airbus 330.

The project’s initial estimated cost was Tk 4.14 billion. The Cabinet on Tuesday approved an enhanced budget of Tk 5.6 billion for the project.

The project is expected to be completed by July 2015.

Denmark would provide Tk 3.28 billion and the remaining Tk 850 million would be mobilised by the government.

Two power projects cleared

Two power projects costing Tk 10.83 billion were also approved to provide electricity to an estimated 450,000 subscribers in the 11 districts of the Barisal and Khulna divisions.

The projects are Community Electrification Expansion Phase-2 of Barisal and Khulna.

Under them, 10,700 km of new transmission lines would be erected, while 1,300 km of power lines would be refurbished.

Mustafa Kamal said the government was laying a great emphasis on electricity generation, distribution and management to ensure sustainable development.