Biman hijacking: Polash got infuriated after he was asked to take his seat

Investigators have cobbled together a clearer picture of the attempted hijacking of a Biman Bangladesh Airlines plane by interrogating six crew members.

Polash Ahmed, a passenger of the BG-147 flight, had changed the seat and then a cabin crew requested him to take the allocated seat, which infuriated him. And then Polash brandished a 'pistol', according to the investigators.

Amid high tensions on Feb 24, the flight landed in Shah Amanat International Airport and then all the passengers and crew except one crew member were safely evacuated from the aircraft while Polash was kept busy in conversations with the pilot through the intercom.

Security personnel had surrounded the plane by then. After two hours, a commando blitz on the plane put an end to the hijacking in about eight minutes. Army and air force officials had said a suspect holding a 'pistol' had been killed.

Polash was carrying a locally made toy pistol, according to a report filed by the forensic department of Criminal Investigation Department.

The Chattogram-bound flight with 148 passengers on board was headed to Dubai after a stopover in Chattogram. But it made international headlines after landing in the Chattogram airport.

Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh later started a case over the ‘attempted hijacking’ of the flight. Chattogram Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Unit was tasked to investigate the case.

Rajesh Barua, the investigation officer of the case and counter terrorism unit inspector, told bdnews24.com that on that day there were seven crew members on the flight. Among them, pilots, first officer and four cabin crew have already been interrogated.

"Six crew, including pilot, came to our office on Wednesday and gave their statements, which were recorded. After recording the statement of the other person, we will go for the next task. "

"The cabin crew member—the last man who emerged from the plane— is now on duty abroad. That is why he could not be questioned on Wednesday. After coming to the country, he will be interviewed," said the investigating officer.

Quoting the cabin crew, he said the 17-D seat was allocated for Polash. When he changed the seat sometime after the flight took off, a cabin crew asked another crew to tell Polash to take his allocated seat.

"But Polash got angry and pulled out a pistol. The cabin crew Nimmi informed the pilot about it. "

After learning about the matter, the pilot switched the camera on and saw Polash kicking at the door of the cockpit. He also saw a pistol and an object like bomb in his hand, Barua said.

On the advice of the pilot, he said, First Officer Muntasir then informed the airport control room about the incident. Five to seven minutes before the scheduled time, the plane landed at the airport.

Then all the passengers and crew except one crew member were safely evacuated.

However, Barua did not want to say anything clearly about the reasons for 'hijacking aircraft'.

On being asked, he said he had already spoken to six people who were on the plane, and 10 Chattogram airport officials. He will interrogate more people for the investigation.