Strengthen airport security
Taking the death
of the Ansar man as waking call, lessons should
be drawn so to make, not only Shahjalal International Airport but all our airports security systems tighter than what they are now
Our largest international airport - Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is increasingly becoming insecure by the day. Last Sunday an Ansar man was stabbed to death and three more were reported to be critically injured as an assailant attacked out of the blue. The police, however, shot the attacker and injured him before taking him to custody. Identified as an employee of a trading house, a third party supplier, the perpetrator has been reported to be in custody. This unanticipated gruesome incident once more compels us to look into the state of security of the countrys largest international airport.
Apparently to any traveller, visitor or people in waiting to receive a passenger, the Shahjalals security systems may seem very tight and fortified with armed police to be seen everywhere but then, how could an assailant enter through an exit point ? Reportedly, he had entered through the exit gate 2, in the guise of a passenger. His unimpeded accessing through an exit gate clearly suggests that he could enter as it was left off guard. More terrifying is that, he went as deep inside the departure area. How could this happen without a passport, ticket and a boarding pass? Reportedly there was no mention of any travel documents in the media. Furthermore, what happened to the security personnel guarding the departure area?
However, the incident may have ended with the assailant being arrested, death of an Ansar guard and three other armed men being injured but the security threat exposed day before yesterday is more than just alarming. Given the series of repeated attacks in airports worldwide, it seemingly looked like the Shahjalal airport was on a high alert too but in fact, its not only thinly guarded but also easily penetrable. Additionally, whats the function of the airport cc cameras meant for monitoring movements within the premises? Or are we to believe, they are out of order too.
Nevertheless, we expect our officers-in-charge of the airport to quick investigate into the security breach affair. Submit an in depth report, in order to deter possible security breach in the future. If needed, then more security should be installed in the vulnerable spots, but most importantly, they will have to be well equipped for detecting and stopping any unwholesome intrusion in advance. Taking the death of the Ansar man as waking call, lessons should be drawn so to make, not only Shahjalal international airport but all our airports security systems tighter than what they are now. Our airports should be safe and well protected.
