A foreign security firm will be brought in to beef up the security at Hazrat Shahjajal International Airport and raise it to international standards.
The step is a part of the government's short term initiatives to meet the conditions outlined by the UK.
The decision came in the wake of the UK's suspension of direct cargo flights from here over security concerns.
According to a source in the Civil Aviation Ministry, the government is negotiating with a number of UK firms – Restrata, Redline and Westminster Group – to engage in assisting Bangladesh airport security agencies and train them in black and white.
“We and the British government have agreed to appoint experienced service conductors working in different parts of the world to strengthen security at the airports,” Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told reporters after a meeting with the British High Commissioner in Bangladesh Alison Blake.
The foreign security service providers will work jointly with the country's security agencies, and if it is done, the problem would come to an end, he said.
“I have already talked to Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon and hope to hand over the responsibility by March 20.”
Menon, however, told journalists earlier that after the initiatives come into effect, the ban on direct cargo flights to UK will be lifted.
Bangladesh exports vegetables and RMG products to the UK through air shipment, Tofail said.
“Since the issue cannot be settled within a short time. it might harm the country's export earnings.”
The British high commissioner said, “Our role is to draw the government's attention to the serious areas. We felt the security at the airport did not meet international standards.
“We want to be a friend if you look for help to meet standards. I am talking to identify the areas we will work in to improve the situation,” said Alison Blake.
In the meeting, the issue of shifting visa processing centre from Dhaka to India was also discussed. Talks were further held on how to increase trade and commerce between Bangladesh and Britain.
Since independence, Bangladesh had been getting UK visa from the high commission in Dhaka, but 18 months ago the facilities were shifted to India.
“I requested the British high commissioner to restore the visa facilities so that people can get visa from here, since our trade with the UK is increasing very fast,” said Tofail.
In response, Blake said: “We are enacting a global change to move British visa operations and this is not specific to Bangladesh. It has been done across the globe, moving from individual sovereign nations to a bigger sectoral hub, and that hub ensures the same standards for visa applications.”
According to the Export Promotion Bureau data, during July-February period of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh earned $2.46 billion from exports to the UK. Of the amount, $2.27 billion came from the export of RMG products and $7.5 million from vegetables and other agricultural goods.
On March 8, the British government put an embargo on direct air cargo shipment from Dhaka on the grounds of security concerns.
Last fiscal year, Bangladesh exported garment items worth $3.23 billion to the UK.