Security at Airport Must Be Foolproof, Not Upped or Lowered

Shahjalal Airport

At the heart of Bangladesh’s aviation infrastructure lies Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport—a national gateway meant to assure safety, inspire confidence, and reflect integrity. Yet recent developments paint a troubling picture. While authorities have taken measures like enhanced screening of VIP baggage, inter-agency coordination, and manual checks for high-risk items, these efforts are undermined by deeply rooted problems: theft from luggage, dubious “lost baggage” sales, selective security, and unchecked smuggling. The reality is clear—unless airport security is made truly foolproof, no reform that the Interim Government is working on will be enough.

Security cannot be tightened or loosened based on convenience or status. Every traveler, VIP or otherwise, deserves the same unwavering protection. A single lapse is an invitation to disaster. Incidents of insider collusion, absent accountability, and the victimization of those who sound alarms are more than procedural flaws—they’re signs of a broken culture.

An equally critical failure lies in how travelers are treated. Passengers—whether arriving or departing—report being met not with efficiency or care, but with disinterest, confusion, and in some cases, outright hostility. For a country striving for global connectivity, such indifference is unacceptable. Airports must treat passengers as honored guests, not inconveniences. After all, without them, there would be no need for airports at all.

A security system worthy of trust must be impenetrable and incorruptible with arrangement like Digital tracking of baggage from check-in to claim; Independent, real-time audits of all handling procedures; Transparent lost-and-found operations, open to external review; Secure staffing policies, with rotation and background checks; Immediate consequences for misconduct, regardless of rank.

Take inspiration from global exemplars like Changi Airport, where even transit checks are conducted with armed escorts and no corner of protocol is compromised. Bangladesh must recognise that safety is not just about stopping threats—it's about proving that none will be tolerated, ever.

If we can't secure the front doors of the nation, how can we claim to secure anything beyond them? The airport must be transformed into a fortress of integrity—not merely by installing equipment or issuing press releases, but by embracing a security culture where the only acceptable standard is foolproof.

Bangladesh’s progress depends on safe skies, secure borders, and a public that believes its institutions work for them—not against them. That belief begins the moment one steps into the airport. Let’s make sure it’s a moment of pride, not regret.