Don’t let people accompany VVIPs into airports: PM

To cope with the latest aviation security, the prime minister today directed the civil aviation and home ministries to show zero tolerance to illegal entrance into the country’s international airports.

Sheikh Hasina also directed the home ministry to immediately arrest those who enter or try to enter the airports violating rules.

The prime minister’s directives came after Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon raised the issue of airport security at the informal discussion after the cabinet meeting, a minister told some reporters after the meeting.

The PM told the ministers that many people enter the airports with the VVIPs violating rules. Even some carry firearms with them, she said asking Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to arrest the people irrespective of their political identities or affiliations.

Menon told the PM that usually ruling party men rush to the airports to see off the VVIPs specially ministers, state ministers, lawmakers, Awami League leaders and influential officials violating rules, sources said. He also said even motorbike showdown is carried out with the VVIPs that hampers aviation security badly, added the sources.

At the meeting, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader invited his cabinet colleagues to the inauguration of the construction works of the Padma Bridge by the prime minister on December 12.