Dhaka: State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat on Wednesday announced the government’s plan to expedite luggage handling processes at Bangladesh airports, particularly for overseas travelers. This initiative aims to ensure passengers receive their luggage immediately after completing the immigration process.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the state minister shared this information with reporters during his first working day at the Secretariat after assuming office. He emphasized that this initiative is part of a more extensive plan to enhance airport services. “We have already started planning. We want to redesign the airport along with the Chairman and the Secretary of Civil Aviation so that passengers do not face difficulties from ticketing to luggage handling,” he stated.
The state minister highlighted the objective of preventing passengers from enduring long waits of one to two hours for their luggage and the need to eliminate corruption in this area. Addressing the issue of ticketing syndicates, he noted that many flights depart with empty seats while prospective passengers struggle to obtain tickets, attributing this to syndicate activities. “We have taken responsibility and are aware of the problems. Soon people will notice gradual but significant improvements. We aim to give a hint of change within the next one or two weeks,” he added.
Regarding partnerships, aviation giants Airbus and Menzies have expressed interest in establishing long-term relationships with Bangladesh. When questioned about investigating past corruption over the last 15 years, the state minister assured that allegations would be thoroughly investigated, stating, “Many are already in jail. The sector is not fully corruption-free yet and we will work to fix that.”
Additionally, he mentioned plans to engage in discussions with the secretary and relevant officials, with a particular focus on tourism, which remains a significant priority for the ministry.