Bomb threat deemed false alarm after emergency landing at Dhaka airport

By Imran Ali, Bangladesh, Jan 22 (Dhaka Tribune): A six-hour emergency search at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport ended around noon on Wednesday without any signs of a bomb or suspicious objects aboard a flight after a bomb threat had been received earlier in the day.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), led by Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan, along with over 200 officers and security personnel, carried out the operation.

According to sources, a message was received by the airport control room at 5:30 am, claiming a bomb was on board Bangladesh Biman Airlines flight BG 356 arriving from Rome, which could explode at any moment. The information was immediately relayed to higher authorities.

The CAAB chairman, along with HSIA Executive Director Group Captain Kamrul Islam and other senior officials, rushed to the airport.

The entire area was swiftly placed under a comprehensive security blanket.

A bomb disposal team from the Air Force, the Quick Response Team (QRT), fire service, and other law enforcement agencies took part in the operation.

The flight, carrying around 200 passengers and crew, made an emergency landing at 9:35 am. Passengers were safely evacuated before the search began.

"We ensured the area was secured and carried out thorough searches," HSIA Aviation Security Director Wing Commander Jahangir Hossain said, adding: "Every potential threat was dealt with diligently."

The bomb disposal team meticulously searched the aircraft and two suspicious bags until 11:30 am but found nothing unusual. By noon, the flight was declared safe, and normal operations resumed.

"Today’s operation showcased the robustness of our airport security measures," CAAB Chairman Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan said. "Every report of a potential threat is treated with the utmost seriousness, and our teams are committed to maintaining zero tolerance for security risks."