The British authorities feel that the security situation at the Shahjalal International Airport is vulnerable and has asked Dhaka to improve its conditions.
They also asked for a sustainable action plan from Dhaka for ensuring proper security measures at the airport, otherwise complexities regarding continuation of Dhaka-London direct flight might arise.
A senior government official said after a bomb explosion at a Russian plane in Egypt in October, security situation at airports around the world has been heightened.
After the plane blast, initially 11 airports of eight countries were under observations due to security vulnerability but now it increased to 38 airports in 20 countries, he said.
The British authorities wanted to inspect Dhaka airport and in November they sent a team to see by themselves about the security situation.
After the inspection, they told the Bangladesh authorities that there were security lapses and expressed their concern that if the situation is not improved, Dhaka-London direct flight might be suspended, he said.
The official said UK, US and Australia have long been asking for the improvement of airport security.
Regional Liaison Officer for Aviation Safety for Asia-Pacific region Jon Lovsey came in November and submitted its first report where he mentioned about security lapses for passengers’ movement.
Lovsey again visited Dhaka in mid-December and submitted its second report where security lapses in cargo handling system were highlighted.
The British authorities said there were security lapses at the airport, he said.
The United States and Australia also endorsed the British reports and acted accordingly, he added.
Australia suspended cargo movement from Bangladesh after the first British report, the official said.
The UK team observed that there was no proper screening of passenger while boarding on the plane and equipment tagging was not functional, he said adding, they also mentioned about security lapses in cargo handling and aircraft hanger area.
The second report asked for removing all private freight forward agents from the hanger area and using of tagging equipment for security.
When contacted, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said the British authorities informed Dhaka about security lapses.
He said they alleged that scanner operators did not work properly and they did not have any training.
In addition to that, explosive tracing machine provided by the UK were not put in place for function, Menon said.
Bangladesh has taken steps to address their concern and immediately took steps to improve the situation.
“We introduced new system to check belts, shoes and jackets of the passengers and explosive tracing machines were installed and those are functioning,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, an airport security force has been introduced and they are already in operation, he said.
Bangladesh is going to send a sustainable action plan by Monday to improve the security situation, the minister said.