Use of mobile phones in Dhaka airporthas been made restricted for all officials and employees including the law enforcers in the wake of recent reports that some of them are involved with smuggling rings.
As per a new decision, the first- and second-grade officials will have to take permission from the authorities to use personal or official mobile phones inside the airport.
Moreover, the low-level employees both in civil and uniform will have to surrender their mobile phones at the airport’s entrance. They may use phones only in the case of emergency, but upon permission of the authorities concerned.
The decision was made by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) recently. It also served a notice to implement the decision from June 2, sources said. The notice threatens the officials of dismissal for using mobile phones which are not authorised by the high officials.
The intelligence agencies have learnt about some incidents by tracking mobile phones of several airport officials. In future, the initiative might be implemented at Chittagong and Sylhet airports.
Some members of the law enforcement agencies, detectives, airport officials, customs officials, even security guards and cleaners have been found to be involved with different smuggling rings, especially the gold smugglers. They use personal mobile phones to contact each other during the passage of the consignments. The airport authorities want to stop this.
Sources said over 350kg of gold had been seized in the last 10 months apart from various precious metals, currencies, electronic accessories and other valuables. Over 3,600 people, including cabin crews and CAAB personnel, and members of customs, immigration, the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and the Ansar were arrested in the last three years for their links with smuggling and other illicit acts.
The smuggling incidents have risen remarkably in the recent months.
The new move comes following two recent reports of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and another intelligence agency to check smuggling.
Submitted to the Home Ministry and the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, the RAB report says the Dhaka airport lacks security. Therefore, members of the law enforcement agencies and airport officials allow the smugglers to run their activities in exchange of money.
The report states that the officials help the smugglers in two ways – either the low-level employees get directly involved in the smuggling process while the seniors help the smugglers by informing them about any raids in the airport through phones.
The CAAB letter, sent to different departments operating inside the airport,directs the employees and staff not to use mobile phones while discharging duties. Without any designated tasks, they have also been asked not to go to the customs, immigration and boarding bridge areas.
The law enforcement agency members will have to leave their unauthorised phones before they step inside the airport area. They will only use walky-talkies for security purpose.
Everyday, more than 50,000 passengers use the airport. At present, 18 domestic and international carriers operate flights through the Dhaka airport. Besides these, 47 countries have connection with the CAAB to use the airport or air traffic.
When contacted, CAAB Chairman Air-Vice Marshal Mahmud Hussain said they had taken the measures upon an intelligence report with a view to keep an eye on the airport staffs.
“Actually, the decision to monitor mobile phones was taken in the past. Recently we have decided to implement this as some officials and staffs have been found keeping ‘ill contact’ with unscrupulous bad people. Some staff also have the tendency of chit-chatting with friends and family by killing working hours,” he said.
He said the use of phones would be restricted primarily at certain spots and the authorities would monitor the employees on close circuit TV cameras. “If caught with phones, the offenders will be punished.
“It is not possible to ban mobile phone use. But we are trying to ensure that nobody usesmobile phones for misdoings. However, they may be allowed for essential purpose upon permission.”
He also said if necessary,mobile phone network jammers would be set up at certain spots of the airport.
“We have noticed that some airliners’ employees do not have walky-talkies. We will ask them to apply for authorised mobile numbers,” Mahmud said.