Photo: Messenger
Four years have elapsed, yet there has been no discernible initiative to reopen the concourse hall of Shahjalal International Airport, which has remained closed since March 2020 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Initially, visitors were permitted entry in exchange for tickets, but since the closure in 2020, access for visitors has been restricted. This prolonged closure has raised concerns among the public, as the reasons behind the continued shutdown remain unclear.
The Executive Director of the Airport, Group Captain Kamrul Islam, informed The Daily Messenger that as of now, there is no plan to reopen the concourse hall. Any potential plans for reopening will be communicated to the public when finalised.
Addressing inquiries, he mentioned the plan of alternative arrangements for accommodating relatives arriving from various districts to welcome passengers at the airport. To facilitate this, a modest construction project is underway, involving the installation of a few canopies in front of the airport. These canopies aim to provide a solution for seating and shelter, ensuring a more organised and comfortable space for visitors.
Additional Superintendent of Police Ziaul Haque Polash, from the Airport Armed Police, conveyed to The Daily Messenger that the authority for decisions regarding the concourse hall lies entirely within the realm of civil aviation. He emphasised that the civil aviation department will determine the most suitable course of action, and the security team is unwavering in their commitment to ensuring safety.
Addressing concerns about security, he expressed confidence that opening the concourse hall under the jurisdiction of civil aviation would not pose a security crisis. He reassured the public by stating that the security team is fully prepared, providing a robust assurance of 100% security readiness for any potential developments related to the reopening of the concourse hall.
The prolonged closure of the internal concourse hall at the airport has resulted in significant hardships for the relatives of passengers. Despite the current absence of a COVID-19 outbreak, the concourse hall, which was initially closed due to the pandemic, remains shut with no plans for reopening. This closure has persisted for four years, even though the facility once provided an opportunity for relatives to greet their loved ones for a nominal fee of 300 taka.
With a substantial daily influx of at least 20,000 passengers passing through the airport, and approximately 2/3 of them accompanied by relatives, the closure of the concourse hall has created challenges for the gathering of around 40,000-50,000 people. The reopening of the concourse hall would greatly alleviate the situation, enabling relatives to easily receive and accompany their designated passengers.
The closure has forced the relatives of passengers to endure long waits in the scorching sun. Zarina, a distressed relative, shared her experience of waiting for her son Adel, arriving from Malaysia. Despite arriving early in the morning with an expected landing time of 11:30 am, there was still no sign of her son by 3 pm.
The challenges faced by relatives of returning expatriates are poignantly highlighted by the experience of Rokeya Khatun from Tangail, whose husband, Expatriate Awlad Hossain, is finally coming home after an extended period abroad. Eager to welcome him, Rokeya, along with a few relatives, patiently awaits his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital.
However, the lack of seating facilities at the airport has forced them to seek refuge under a banyan tree in the car parking area to escape the scorching sun. This predicament is not unique to Awlad's family; rather, it is a daily struggle faced by the relatives of expatriates arriving from various parts of the country.
Ashraful Islam, a concerned relative who arrived to pick up his brother from the airport, shared his frustration about the lack of clarity regarding his brother's exit gate. His brother, returning from Saudi Arabia after five years, faced a situation where the closure of the visitor access to the arrivals canopy added unnecessary complexity to the reunion process.
Expressing his predicament, Ashraful mentioned that if the visitor access to the arrivals canopy had been open, he could have easily and directly welcomed his brother upon arrival. However, due to the closure, they had to devise a workaround, with two people traveling from the village to cover both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Eventually, they successfully located their brother in Terminal 1 and brought him home.
The grievances expressed by the relatives of passengers highlight a significant challenge faced by those traveling abroad or returning to the country after an extended period, particularly among individuals with limited education. Navigating the complexities of airport procedures, including understanding the correct gates and directions, poses a genuine difficulty for these travelers.
The reintroduction of the facility for relatives to enter the concourse hall could offer a practical solution to this problem. Such a facility would not only assist uneducated travelers but also provide a smoother experience for both domestic and foreign passengers. This becomes especially apparent in the case of foreign passengers, where the previous practice of representatives from various hotels waiting outside the green channel with name papers greatly facilitated their transition.
When the concourse hall was open, foreign guests could easily identify their designated representatives by matching the names on the papers, streamlining the process of reaching their accommodations. The current absence of this facility has resulted in various challenges for both foreign passengers and hotel representatives.
The challenges faced by passengers, especially elderly individuals, during the exit process at the airport are raising concerns among travelers and their relatives. The observation that many elderly passengers struggle to reach the counters with their luggage, coupled with a lack of assistance, underscores the need for a more accessible and supportive environment.
The proposal to open the exit concourse is rooted in the idea that allowing people to come to the aid of the elderly and sick passengers within the canopy area could significantly alleviate these difficulties. Passengers and their relatives argue that if they are already present at the airport, staying outside the canopy, there shouldn't be a safety issue inside the canopy as long as proper screening measures are in place.
Comparisons with other international airports further emphasise the unique challenges faced at the local airport. The swift demand for the withdrawal of the ban on entering the concourse hall reflects the frustration and inconvenience experienced by passengers and their companions.
Advocating for a reconsideration of the restrictions, passengers and their relatives are emphasising the need for a more flexible and accommodating approach, particularly for vulnerable individuals.
Messenger/Sun Yath
