Mismanagement rampant at Dhaka airport

Passengers yesterday complained of mishandling of luggage and misbehaviour by staffers and employees of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and different airlines.

They, mostly migrant workers, expressed helplessness while speaking at a mass hearing at the airport in presence of top officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and the airport.

CAAB organised the programme as part of its initiative to improve passenger service at the country's main airport.

SM Ishaq, a Bangladeshi migrant in Saudi Arabia for 27 years, said he visited Dhaka at least 25 times during this period.

He said he always picks Biman, the national flag carrier, for travelling home out of love for the country. "But airport and Biman staffers misbehaved with me on many occasions when I sought their assistance."

Ishaq said the migrants earn foreign currencies working hard in foreign land, but the airport and Biman officials do not show minimum respect to them in many cases.

"I urge the airport and airlines officials concerned to show some respect," he pleaded while drawing the attention of CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, who chaired the event.

Citing an example of mishandling of luggage, the expatriate said he on July 8 found one of his three suitcases cut and many items from it missing.

Oliullah, an expatriate from Cumilla, complained that he did not find one of his suitcases at the Dhaka airport while returning home from South Africa on July 18.

Several other passengers who used the airport recently said it often takes them two to three hours to get their luggage after arrival.

Several journalists raised before the hearing the muck-talked-about recent incident of slapping of a passenger from Malaysia by a customs official while checking his luggage.

Md Russel and Md Anis alleged that they bought tickets from an agency of Salam Air from abroad to travel to Oman at 1:30pm yesterday.

But after reaching the Dhaka airport, they came to know that no flight of Salam Air was scheduled for departure at that time.

In most cases, the CAAB chairman asked the airport and airlines officials concerned to resolve the passengers' problems instantly.

Talking about misconduct by officials and employees at the HSIA, the CAAB boss said they were preparing a code of conduct for all stakeholders at the airport.

"Every individual will have to follow this code of conduct if he/she wants to continue working at the airport," he added.

Mafidur said they will also organise training for all airport officials and employees so that they behave well with all passengers.

Regarding mismanagement in handling of luggage, the CAAB chief said as per instructions from the Prime Ministers' Office, they have formed a committee to look into the matter on a regular basis to improve the situation.

He apologised over the slapping of a passenger by a customs official.