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UK ban on Dhaka-London cargo flights to be lifted once security tightened

THE ban on direct Dhaka-London air freight flights imposed by the United Kingdom will be lifted once the airport manages to sustain improvements to its security system.

Britain's Redline Assured Security has been working for two weeks to provide aviation security to the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), and train security screeners, reported the Dhaka Financial Express.

It said the UK Department of Transport has been constantly monitoring the improvement of the airport security system after appointing Redline late last month.

As part of its review, the Department of Transport (DoT) will send one of its representatives to Dhaka on April 8 to reassess the overall progress before preparing its report on airport security.

"I can't say exactly when the ban will be lifted," said Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon.

The government is also working to improve the country's overall airport security system and plans to undertake an integrated work proposal to beef up security and allay the concerns of other trade partners, said a senior official of the ministry.

He said alongside Redline, the US was also interested to extend its support to improve security at Bangladeshi airports. A seven-member US delegation led by Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Alan Bersin met with the Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister last week and expressed their interest.