Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport—the country’s main aviation gateway—is witnessing severe disorder, with large crowds of passengers’ relatives, dust, and weak enforcement creating conditions akin to the Gabtali Bus Terminal and Sayedabad Bus Terminal, according to a ground visit.
Around a year and a half ago, airport authorities introduced a rule allowing only two companions per passenger. However, the restriction is widely ignored, with four to five companions per passenger now common.
Airport Executive Director SM Ragib Samad acknowledged the difficulty of enforcing rules. “No one wants to follow the rules. We did not allow more than two visitors, but no one complies,” he said.
He added that strict enforcement can create further complications. “We face various problems. Still, we are trying. Often, we use hand microphones to request people to follow the rules. Efforts to control the situation are ongoing.”
Relatives were found scattered across the premises, with both arrival and departure areas heavily congested. Though each passenger is typically accompanied by four to five people, officials formally allow only limited access. The pressure from accompanying relatives is so intense that the facility is scarcely recognisable as the country’s main airport. Dust and sand further worsen conditions.
From the airport roundabout inward, the environment appears deteriorated. People were seen eating and smoking while sitting on high road dividers. Deeper inside, dust and sand in the air force visitors to cover their faces and eyes.
At arrival terminals (Terminals 1 and 2), crowds jostle to move forward, attempting to cross barriers and enter restricted areas such as the green channel. Law enforcement personnel—including Ansar, police, and aviation security (Avsec)—appear overwhelmed.
A similar situation prevails in the departure area. On the first floor, hundreds of people stand scattered. At departure gates, each passenger is accompanied by at least three relatives. Although only passengers are permitted inside, many attempt to go as far as boarding points, leaving authorities struggling to manage the flow.
The situation extends across the entire airport premises. As flights land, relatives rush towards the canopy area regardless of their previous positions. Security personnel said that if left unchecked, it would be difficult to control how far they proceed.
Officials noted that entry inside the canopy was previously restricted, but repeated attempts to breach the area—often accompanied by commotion—have weakened enforcement.
Abdus Salam, a visitor, said many people from rural areas come to receive relatives returning from abroad after years away. “People don’t understand much. When someone comes back after six or seven years, many want to come to the airport. Since they rent a whole vehicle, they arrive in groups,” he said, adding he was unaware of the two-companion restriction.
Another visitor, Akbar Hossain, said they were sitting under a tree due to a lack of seating. “My nephew is arriving from Saudi Arabia, so eight of us came in a Hiace,” he said.
Airport officials say the excessive number of accompanying relatives is the primary driver of overcrowding.
Visitors said the airport has lost its earlier discipline and environment. While seating exists for expatriate passengers, many do not use it, and others sit outside due to limited arrangements. Ongoing development work in and around the airport is also contributing to dust and discomfort. The daily presence of thousands of people has made conditions resemble those of major bus terminals.
