Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh and Biman high-ups came under fire yesterday from a parliamentary standing committee for their failure to stop gold smuggling through the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The parliamentary standing committee on civil aviation and tourism asked the CAAB and Biman bosses to take effective measures immediately to stop gold smuggling and take punitive measures against the officials involved.

“We have told them many times over to take effective measures and ensure close monitoring to stop gold smuggling through the airport. But they have failed to do so,” Muhammad Faruk Khan, chief of the committee, told The Daily Star after a meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

The former civil aviation minister also said the parliamentary watchdog had asked Biman and Caab to ensure exemplary punishment against their employees if found involved in the crime.

Faruk, also a ruling Awami League MP, said he had been informed by Caab Chairman Air Vice-Marshal M Sanaul Huq that one steward had been terminated and three other officials temporarily suspended for their involvement in gold smuggling.

Besides, Caab is also carrying out an investigation against three other officials and action will be taken against them if they are found guilty, said Faruk quoting the Caab chairman.

The JS body asked the civil aviation ministry to submit its probe report on gold smuggling before the committee's next meeting which is likely to be held within the next 15 days.