Photo: Collected
To combat the theft of passengers' belongings and ensure the integrity of the services, suspected civil aviation workers from two organisations will be equipped with body-worn cameras while on duty. A hundred cameras have already been procured from Japan, with an additional thousand cameras slated to arrive shortly as part of the initial phase. This initiative is set to commence imminently.
Shafiul Azim, the Chief Executive Officer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, informed reporters of their proactive measures to curb misconduct among Biman officials and employees. He emphasised that stringent actions are taken against any individual found guilty of wrongdoing. Additionally, new strategies are being implemented, including the mandatory use of body-worn cameras by airmen during their duties at various checkpoints. Notably, the cameras will be operational throughout their shifts, ensuring continuous monitoring of their activities.
He further stated that the implementation of this process is in its final stages and will be executed imminently. The plan entails installing cameras on employees across all airports in the country, including Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital, as a preventive measure against crime. Employees will wear cameras on their chests while on duty, ensuring comprehensive surveillance and accountability.
Currently, cameras are being procured for 885 employees, with Biman Bangladesh Airlines having acquired an initial batch of 100 cameras from Japan. This initiative comes in response to allegations of various crimes, including gold and dollar smuggling, luggage theft, passenger harassment, and aiding in human trafficking, which have been leveled against workers at different times.
According to reliable sources, comprehensive profiles of officials and employees within the civil aviation sector and Biman Bangladesh Airlines have been meticulously compiled over the course of several months. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has devised a new strategy aimed at thwarting criminal activities within the airlines and affiliated organisations. A key objective of this initiative is to dismantle criminal syndicates, notably targeting the notorious CAAB syndicate.
As part of this effort, a watchlist of individuals involved in human trafficking and other illicit activities has been compiled at airports. Those identified in the list are subject to heightened monitoring and scrutiny.
Senior officials from civil aviation and Biman Bangladesh Airlines have convened numerous meetings to address this pressing issue. Several measures have been deliberated upon and are set to be implemented to prevent offenses by employees while on duty.
A senior official from Biman Bangladesh Airlines has disclosed that certain dishonest employees within Biman and CAAB are implicated in various criminal activities at airports. In response to these concerns, they have devised a series of strategies to address the issue. One such measure involves equipping suspected employees with body-worn cameras, with a hundred cameras already procured from Japan for this purpose. These cameras will be affixed to the chests of employees while on duty, and they will not have the ability to switch them off. The camera quality is reported to be excellent, and once activated, they will be remotely controlled from a central control room, recording the activities of the employees.
Similar measures are also being adopted by CAAB, with plans to cover over 800 employees from both organisations with CCTV cameras. With the installation of these cameras, authorities will have visibility into the movements and actions of the employees, providing enhanced oversight and accountability.
According to a recent report from CAAB, a number of employees from various positions, including Office Assistant Hasan Parvez, ASG Saiful Islam, ASG Kabir, Communication Assistant Asaduzzaman Khokon, Operator Deepak, Security Moniruzzaman Khan, Shahjalal Sarkar, Supervisor Jinnah, Operator Fazlur Rahman alias Fazlu, Shahadat Hossain, Fire Operator Mizanur Rahman alias Mizan, Security Zillur, Fire Operator Mizanur Rahman Khan, Security Babul Chandra Das, Gazi Tofail, Haji Azad, Tanveer Hossain Mia, Sohail Rana, Kazi Masud, Embarkation C-Collector Abdul Matin, Security Idris Mollah, Shakhawat Hossain Tuhin, Rafiqul Islam, Fire Operator Farid Uddin, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Supervisor Suman Chandra Das, Traffic Helper Amir Hossain, Md. Akram Hossain, Traffic Officer Mamun, Counter Supervisors Shakeel and Jahangir Hossain, Ground Service Officer Shawkat, Mahbub Hossain alias Mahbub, and Anisur Rahman alias Anis, have been the subject of various complaints.
In response to these concerns, these individuals will be provided with body-worn cameras to be worn during their duty hours. This measure aims to enhance accountability and oversight, ensuring transparency in their actions and mitigating any potential misconduct.
Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Colonel (retired) Faruk Khan, emphasised to reporters that significant efforts are underway to eradicate corruption from all airports under their jurisdiction. He reiterated a firm stance against criminal activities, affirming that there will be zero tolerance for corruption among officials or employees of the airline industry. Under the directives of the Prime Minister, concerted efforts are being made to root out corruption and irregularities from the aviation sector.
Colonel Faruk Khan assured that individuals involved in criminal activities will be identified, and stringent action will be taken against them.
Civil Aviation Authority Chairman, Air Vice Marshal M. Mofidur Rahman, reiterated the organisation's firm commitment to a zero-tolerance policy against corruption. He emphasised that strict action will be taken against anyone found involved in illicit activities, particularly within CAAB. Already, disciplinary measures have been implemented against certain employees.
To bolster monitoring efforts and enhance accountability, several initiatives have been launched to track the movements of suspected employees. Notably, the installation of body-worn cameras is set to be implemented shortly, further bolstering surveillance measures and ensuring transparency in the conduct of duties.
Messenger/Disha
