Vested quarters want govtto accept unsolicited deal

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Jasim Uddin Haroon Influential quarters are allegedly pressing hard the ministry of civil aviation to award the job of 'comprehensive security management' at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to a Canadian company, sources told the FE Saturday. But the ministry wants to carry out the job under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, they added. The said quarters, which have been trying for a long time to get its 'ill motives' implemented, has already proposed collection of US$ 35 as security fee from each of the outgoing passengers. "A strong lobby is working on in this connection.. But we'll not go with their offers," said a senior official of civil aviation and tourism ministry. Earlier, a Canada-based Visual Defense Inc made a proposal to the civil aviation ministry for installing the comprehensive security management system for the country's largest airport. The company in its proposal also wanted to sign an unsolicited deal with the authorities on the works at a cost of US$ 40 million. According to the proposal, the company is to receive $35 as security fee from each departing passenger for a period of 25 years. The airlines using the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport facilities, according to the proposal, are to realise security fee through an additional surcharge with the fares from each outgoing passenger. However, the cabinet committee on economic affairs in its recent meeting asked the Canadian company to submit a fresh proposal changing some of its conditions. The cabinet committee also gave its opinion in favour of beefing up the security system at the country's busiest airport up to the international standard. The civil and tourism ministry sought permission of the cabinet committee on economic affairs for a direct purchase under the provisions of public procurement regulation of 2008 as a matter of emergency needed for the state. The official who wished not to be named however said the government wants to implement the project through public-private partnership. According to the proposal, the company would set up a perimeter intruder detection system and a comprehensive video surveillance in the airfield. It will upgrade the airport's security system to a great extent, the proposal said. It will also equip the airport with an automatic access control system with biometric features. This will control entry into the restricted areas of the airport, according to proposal. The company also proposes to install a computerised central command with a view to monitoring the security arrangements. The proposal said civil aviation authority will get 15 per cent as royalty charges. Equipment like a computed tomography scanning machine and an explosive detection system will be installed under the security system for proper scanning of passengers and their respective luggage.