CAAB Chairman Bhuiyan reiterated that, while no immediate plans exist for a new security force, the government would take necessary steps if a thorough threat assessment warranted additional security measures
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has denied claims that it plans to establish a Bangladesh Airport Security Force, calling recent employee protests against such a move baseless and unnecessary.
CAAB Chairman Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan clarified that no such proposal has been made, dismissing concerns raised by protesting employees as misinformation. Despite this, CAAB officials and employees staged a demonstration, blocking the Dhaka airport highway to press for a six-point demand. Their demands included scrapping the alleged proposal for a new security force, strengthening CAAB’s organisational structure, and promoting its self-reliance and sustainable development.
“There is no basis for their protest as the issues they raised are baseless. We have not made any such decisions or plans,” Bhuiyan stated. He suggested that the agitation might have been influenced by external factors aiming to create unrest. “No such decision has been made, and we even issued a media rejoinder clarifying the matter,” he added.
Confusion Over Alleged Security Force Proposal
Despite CAAB’s clear denial, concerns persist among some employees, particularly regarding the involvement of military personnel in airport security. Md Robin Dewan, a security officer at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, claimed that a Bangladesh Airport Security Force was indeed being formed, with 70 per cent of its personnel sourced from the Air Force and only 30 per cent from civilians.
He argued that this distribution was unfair, as the airport operates as a civilian organisation and should primarily be staffed by civilian employees. According to Dewan, this imbalance was the main reason behind Monday’s protests, during which employees presented their concerns to CAAB leadership.
When asked about the current status of the protest, Dewan downplayed the matter, stating, “There was no protest that day.” However, when questioned about whether CAAB had responded to their demands, he said, “I don’t know about this,” suggesting that senior officials should be consulted for further clarification.
Security Measures Under Consideration
CAAB Chairman Bhuiyan reiterated that, while no immediate plans exist for a new security force, the government would take necessary steps if a thorough threat assessment warranted additional security measures. He mentioned that deploying armed forces at airports could be considered in the future, but it was not currently under discussion.
“This issue has not been raised in any board meeting or placed on the agenda,” he noted.
Addressing concerns about further protests, Bhuiyan stated that no action would be taken against those involved in this incident. However, he warned that strict measures would follow if such demonstrations disrupted airport operations again.
The situation highlights growing tensions within CAAB over security and operational changes. While the chairman’s statement aimed to put concerns to rest, the lingering uncertainty among employees suggests that discussions around the composition of airport security may continue in the coming months.
