A large crowd of heterogeneous elements always remains vigilant at the passenger exit point at Zia International Airport (ZIA) to take the first opportunity to virtually besiege the incoming passengers. Many of them quickly grab passengers' luggage apparently extending a helping hand while many others offer various help - all with the motive of extorting money.

In the melee, some passeir-gers lose their baggage, some are forced to board run-over vehicles at the parking lot and some are made to part with some of the foreign exchange they carry with them. Still worse, some are even manhandled.

Talking to this correspondent. some passengers who returned from Gulf countries and Singapore made these allegations recently.

This correspondent also witnessed how taxi drivers and brokers trap the passengers and make them pay as demanded.

"I am fortunate they did not assault me,” said one passenger. The elements controlling the

ZIA

From Page 1 exit point forced him to board a vehicle and kept him waiting till repair of its damaged lyre.

“They did not tell me hov much they would charge foi taking me to Munshiganj. Thej literally grabbed me in front o some uniformed people ant dragged me to the vehicle sayin; that they were my relatives", he said.

"They were calling me bj name but I could not understand how they came to know it." the frustrated passenger said.

When asked about this, officials at ZIA said the Civil Avia tlon Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) now controls the parking lot.

The CAAB earns about Tk 5000 a month from the parking lot. sources said.

Regarding harassment by brokers, the officials said several agencies are involved in management of ZIA but they do not have coordination among them. Besides, they are also not properly trained for airport management, the officials added.

“ Well trained manpower is required for management ol international airports like ZIA", a senior official said.

A total of 763 people were fined about Tk 1.90 lakh for illegal entering the reserved area at ZIA and lor harassing passengers during the period January. 99 to April 24. this year.

Police deployed at and around ZIA said they were not in a position to fight against the 'organised gangs' operating in the area.

"On many occasions, we are to bow down to pressure from the high ups and therefore we cannot combat crimes at ZI/\ and adjacent areas and ensure security of the passengers", a senior police official said seeking anonymity.

The miscreants are sheltered by different political parties and manage to evade charges, some officials alleged.

When the problems were brought to the notice of the authorities concerned, they passed the blame on other agencies and departments.