Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon has said the government has taken extra security measures to ensure international standard airport safety at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
"We are in critical situation regarding aviation security globally. I believe, we will surly maintain international standard security at our airports," he said while inaugurating "Airport Emergency Exercise" on runway of the HSIA on Sunday.
The Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) conducted the drill as per the requirement of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The ICAO made the emergency exercise mandatory for all international airports across the globe for at least one in two years.
Menon said the government has already taken some stern measures in restricting entrance of companies of passengers at the airport considering the security aspect.
"I know people are facing difficulties when they come to the airport for seeing off or receive their dear ones. But we have to accept this. There is no alternative," he said.
The minister said the CAAB conducts such kind of emergency exercise once in a year though the ICAO's requirement is one in two years.
"None of us wants to see air crash. But we have to be prepared to face it. This kind of emergency exercise will be conducted in the country's other international airports soon," he said.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Sanaul Huq and CAAB member (Director and Planning) Air Commodore M Mustafizur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.
Later, the CAAB Chairman told journalists they have taken extra security measures at the HISA not due to threat, it is a part of the global aviation security concern.
"It's not that something unusual is going on in Bangladesh. The entire global aviation arena is passing through critical situation due to security threat. We have taken extra measures as part of global aviation security practice," he said.
The Air Vice Marshal said presently the CAAB is checking photo ID of every passenger at the of entering the airport. It also introduced explosive detector and deployed dog squad at the HISA to ensure security, he said.
The CAAB chairman said the government is going to form a specialised Aviation Security Force to ensure the airports safety as international standard.
In the meantime, the government has deployed additional 250 security personnel from Air Force, Police and Ansar to tighten the security of the HISA, one of KPI (Key Point Installation) of the country, Huq said.
He said the CAAB has also taken initiative to procure adequate security gears for the airports.
During the drill, a dummy aircraft was set on fire as it was pretended to get crash landing due to technical difficulties beside the taxiway of the airport.
Fire brigade and rescue team along with the medical support held the exercise to control the fire and do the rescue operation of the passengers.
