Security officials today detained a former upazila chairman for entering the domestic terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka with a pistol and bullets without any prior declaration.

Mojibar Rahman, former chairman of Chitalmari upazila of Bagerhat, was detained by the airport security officials and later handed over to Biman Bandar Police Station for carrying a pistol and 10 rounds of bullets, said Noor-e-Alam Siddiqi, director of Aviation Security (AVSEC) at the Dhaka airport.

Mojibar was preparing to board a Khulna-bound flight of Novo Air scheduled to take off at 3:20pm, the official added.

According to rules, an individual must inform the airport authorities about carrying arms and ammunitions while entering the airport.

A PATTERN?

Earlier, on March 25, ABM Majharul Anam, president of Darussalam Unit AL, was detained by the airport security officials and later handed over to police for carrying 44 rounds of bullets.

Also, on March 22, police detained Mujibur Rahman, agricultural affairs secretary of Satkhira AL, for entering the domestic terminal of HSIA with a pistol and 32 bullets without notifying the authorities beforehand.

On March 16, police detained AHM Nurul Islam, bodyguard of the chairman of Probashi Palli Group, at the same terminal, for carrying a shotgun without informing the authorities.

In yet another incident at the terminal on March 11, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) detained Mohammad Masud Chowdhury, chairman of Phulsahara Union Parishad in Jashore’s Chougachha upazila, for carrying a pistol and seven bullets. He is also the general secretary of Chougachha upazila AL unit.

The incidents occurred following the attempt by a passenger to hijack a Dubai-bound Bangladesh Biman flight on February 24, using a toy pistol and a bomb-like object. The incident raised serious concerns over security at the Dhaka airport.