Staff Reporter:
The Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) authorities in Dhaka have found no explosive-like device following their search for a bomb on a Biman flight bound to Kathmandu.
The BG-373 flight was scheduled to depart from Dhaka at 4:45 pm on Friday. The pilot of the aircraft was Captain Abdur Rahman. However, before the flight could take off, a bomb threat was received from an unidentified source. Immediately afterward, the airport’s security measures were raised to the highest alert.
“A phone call from an unknown number claimed that there was a bomb on the flight. At the time, the aircraft was preparing for takeoff. Giving top priority to passenger safety, all passengers were promptly evacuated from the plane.” General Manager (Public Relations) at Biman Bangladesh Airlines, ABM Rowshan Kabir, told the Daily Sun.
“The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has taken the matter very seriously and brought the Airport Armed Police and Bomb Disposal Unit immediately,” he added.
As soon as the bomb threat was received, all passengers on the aircraft were safely evacuated. Later, they were sent to the lounge of the airport.
“Although panic spread among the passengers, no one was harmed. The flight was suspended until safety was fully ensured,” the Biman official said.
Squadron Leader Md Mahmudul Hasan Masum, spokesperson for the Executive Director of HSIA, stated that all passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft.
“The bomb disposal team has conducted a thorough search. To ensure complete security, the airport’s security unit, law enforcement agencies, and other relevant organisations also took actions. But we haven’t found anything suspicious,” he said.
ABM Rowshan Kabir said it is being investigated who made the threat and with what intention and further actions will be taken based on the decision of the relevant authorities.
It is mentionable that such incidents of threat regarding Biman’s security are nothing new for the authorities. Earlier on 22 January this year, police received information from a Pakistani WhatsApp number about the presence of a “37-kg bomb” on an Italy bound Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight.
Later, the security agencies found nothing in the flight after checking it thoroughly.
