The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has taken additional security measures at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) due to work abstention of 902 general Ansar personnel stationed at the airport.
"We have managed to cover the absence of these 902 personnel without disrupting our operations, even for a minute," CAAB Chairman Manjur Kabir Bhuiyan told media during a visit to the airport's security facilities on Friday evening.
The embodied Ansar strike, which began on Thursday afternoon elsewhere in the country, was prompted by various demands including nationalization of their jobs.
To mitigate the impact of the strike, CAAB mobilized its own security staff and enlisted the assistance of Air Force personnel from other airports.
Additionally, 300 members of the Ansar Guard Battalion (AGB) were deployed to maintain security at the airport.
"Previously, we had 800 personnel working here. Now, a total of around 1,200 to 1,250 personnel are on duty, including various task forces and other units while members of the Ansar Guard Battalion (AGB) are also on duty," Bhuiyan said.
On Thursday, he said 200 of AGB were at the HSIA while another 100 joined on Friday. "Our ICAO-certified security professionals from other airports have also been brought in to support operations," he added.
The CAAB chairman explained that the absence of the Ansar members had created a significant security vacuum at the airport, which spans a three-kilometer runway and multiple gates due to the ongoing construction of the third terminal.
However, with the swift collaboration of CAAB's ICAO-certified security officers, the AGB, and the Air Force, the situation was effectively managed, Bhuiyan said, extending special thanks to the air force chief for the prompt support.
Looking ahead, Bhuiyan emphasized the need for building internal capacity to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
"We need to develop our own capacity to avoid facing such problems again. This requires bringing in people who understand airside operations. Outsiders may not fully comprehend the intricacies of airport operations," he said.
Bhuiyan also addressed rumors that the striking Ansar members might be barred from returning to duty. "We've heard that there are rumors that they won't be allowed back, but we've assured them that they will be re-engaged in their previous roles if they return," he said.
Mpox Precautions
The CAAB chairman also provided an update on Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) precautions at the country's airports.
He confirmed that no passengers with Mpox have been detected so far.
"On Friday morning, a passenger arriving from Qatar was found having a high body temperature and mild rashes. He was quickly isolated, and necessary measures were taken. Samples were sent to IEDCR for testing, but the results came back negative. Our medical team is very active in handling such cases," Bhuiyan assured.
The CAAB chairman was accompanied by HSIA Executive Director Group Captain Kamrul Islam.
