The State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Ali said international flight operations would be suspended if necessary.
The minister said this while referring to the issue of detecting new strand of the deadly coronavirus recently identified in the UK.
The situation of present Covid-19 is being closely monitoring by the higher authorities of the country, said the minister while addressing a security exercise event at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Thursday.
“Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, Health Ministry, and Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Ministry are jointly monitoring the existing coronavirus situation. Flight operation will continue until further notice. If such a situation arises, an instant decision will be taken to stop the flight operations,” he added.
The state minister said, “Separate screening system has been introduced for passengers especially coming from London at Dhaka, Sylhet, and Chattogram airports. Besides, everyone is being allowed to enter Bangladesh by showing a Covid-19 certificate.”
“Recently a new type of Coronavirus outbreak has been identified in the United Kingdom. For this, we are closely monitoring the passengers coming from there. If any suspected passengers arrive by any airliners they are testing again at PCR lab. There are adequate arrangements for institutional quarantine for corona suspected passengers. Further arrangements will be made if required”, added the state minister.
Meanwhile, all airlines have been instructed to provide lists of transit passengers or passengers arriving on any flight from the UK directly. The authority concerned can check and scan the UK passengers separately at the country’s three airports.
On the other hand, about the airport security Mahbub Ali said that airport security is associated with the image of the country. Everyone engaged in airport operation and maintenance must ensure passengers' security and safe travel.
Upgradation of airport security is underway as per the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. HSIA, the country's main airport, has been equipped with body scanners, explosive detective systems, dual-view X-ray machines, walk-through metal detectors, and under-vehicle surveillance systems.
As per the rules of the International Civil Aviation Authority, after every two years, the security exercise is being conducted. HSIA Director Group Captain AHM Touhidul Ahsan conducted the security exercise with Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority, Aviation Security Force, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Army, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, RAB, APBN, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and other organizations.
