Biman staff in police custody

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines official, arrested on Saturday for his suspected involvement in the smuggling 106 kilograms gold, has been remanded in five days' police custody.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate SN Ashikur Rahman gave the order on Sunday after police produced Md Anis Uddin Bhuiyan in court, seeking his custody.

The investigating officer, Airport Police Station’s Sub-Inspector Zahirul Islam, had pleaded for a 10-day remand, but the court allowed five after rejecting Bhuiyan's bail appeal.

The smuggling of the precious metal through Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport and Chittagong’s Shah Amanat International Airport has peaked in recent times, though the impetus remains unclear, the authorities say.

Officials at both airports have made frequent seizures during the past several months.

Customs officials at Shahjalal airport had on Saturday morning found 106 kg of gold bars lying abandoned in a toilet of an aircraft coming from Dubai.

The discovery led to Biman’s mechanical assistant Anis Uddin Bhuiyan's arrest with Customs officials claiming his direct involvement.

Some time back, a few cleaners had been arrested while trying to smuggle in gold.