Relax security checks for MPs, VIPs at airports

A parliamentary body yesterday recommended “relaxed security checks” for MPs and other VIPs at airports of the country and separate queues for their security checks. 

The parliamentary standing committee on the civil aviation ministry came up with the recommendations at a meeting in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with ruling Awami League lawmaker RAM Obaidul Moktadir Chowdhury in the chair.

Civil aviation secretary Mohibul Haque, who was present at the meeting, told the committee that his ministry had no authority to relax the security checks for VIPs at the airports and the government's high-ups could decide on the matter, sources at the meeting told The Daily Star.

Still, the committee chief requested the ministry to look into the matter.

A lawmaker in the meeting said strict checking at all airports must be ensured but the VIPs should not need to take off their shoes, belts, and coats during security checks.

He suggested VIPs have separate queues.

Others member of the committee supported the lawmaker's proposal, the meeting sources said. 

The civil aviation ministry recently issued a notification to all airports to ensure foolproof security following the February 24 hijack bid of flight BG 147 in Chattogram.

Later, there were several incidents in Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in which at least four passengers were detained for carrying firearms and bullets without declaration.

Apart from those, film star Ilias Kanchan on March 6 forgot he was carrying his licensed firearm and remembered it just before boarding a plane. He then handed it over to the authorities to have it back at his destination airport.

Asked, a top official of airport security at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport claimed that VIPs, with the exception of heads of states and governments, do not get special treatment at security checks in airports across the globe.

“Security checking should be applied equally for all,” he added.

The parliamentary committee yesterday also asked Biman to probe the alleged irregularities and corruption in selling of its tickets after a lawmaker raised the issue.