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Standard service at ShahaJalal airport

Saturday, 21 June 2014


It was 25th of March 2014. My wife and I were returning to Australia after a happy visit to Bangladesh. The sad part is that we had to return with a bitter experience regarding the airline in general and the airport in particular. At the Shahjalal Airport we were met by mosquitoes, human waste, little plastic bags on the floors, and cough on the floor and wall.
Who is responsible to keep it clean? I saw a number of regular cleaners around the arrival and departure lounge and luggage collection areas, but I failed to understand what for they were there. A toilet at the outside passengers' sitting area was completely unusable and it was beyond imagination that a toilet of an international airport may be of that standard. All the liquid in the commode -- urine, water and what not-comes rushing back at you, spoiling your clothes, soiling your shoes. Human waste, dirty water and bad odours overflowing the place.
Though hundreds of thousands of problems we face, we feel proud of it. Its (Airport) strategic geographical location makes the airport an ideal transfer point for leisure and business passengers travelling around Bangladesh. Over 4 million international and 1 million domestic passengers as well as 150,000 tons of freight and mail exchange use Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) on an annual basis. It is a huge source of revenue for Bangladesh government.
We eagerly request the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh which operates and maintains the airport to please keep a minimum international standard.  

A K Azad
Perth, Australia
Email: azadwa@yahoo.com