The protest by retired Major Akhtaruzzaman against passenger harassment and mismanagement at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka has led to improvements in baggage handling and passenger services, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman has said.
Speaking at a programme marking Akhtaruzzaman’s release from prison at his residence on Minto Road in the capital on Tuesday afternoon, Shafiqur said several measures had been taken at the airport following the retired army officer’s protest.
These include the addition of 300 new luggage trolleys in two phases and the introduction of body cameras for ground-handling staff to prevent baggage theft and the cutting open of passengers’ bags.
Passengers are now receiving their luggage within 15 to 20 minutes, he said.
“Your protest has been 100 per cent effective. It is delivering results,” Shafiqur told Akhtaruzzaman.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the protest, the Jamaat chief highlighted the difficulties passengers face in collecting their luggage after arriving at the airport.
“A passenger has to wait three hours after landing to receive his luggage. Then only part of the luggage arrives, while the rest is missing. Even after being reprimanded, the authorities apologise and say the remaining luggage is also coming. Tell me, who could remain calm in such a situation?” he said.
Shafiqur claimed that Akhtaruzzaman had not physically assaulted anyone, despite being accused of obstructing government duties and assaulting a government official. He described the allegations as entirely false.
The Jamaat chief also praised people in Bangladesh and expatriate communities abroad for protesting Akhtaruzzaman’s arrest. He said expatriates in several countries had organised meetings and rallies and even staged demonstrations outside Bangladeshi diplomatic missions.
He said Akhtaruzzaman had raised his voice for the rights of expatriate Bangladeshis and ordinary air passengers.
“I have spent a lot of time in prison and staged many protests. But I did not get results immediately. You have already achieved them,” Shafiqur said.
Referring to the case filed against Akhtaruzzaman, his placement on remand and the difficulties he allegedly faced in securing bail, Shafiqur criticised the authorities for their handling of the matter.
“You filed a false case against a valiant freedom fighter. Then you took him on remand. That was another disgrace,” he said.
Turning to broader political issues, the opposition leader accused the government of targeting the opposition with propaganda to divert attention from administrative failures.
“To cover up Bangladesh’s mountain of mismanagement, incompetence and inefficiency, the opposition has now been turned into a target of propaganda,” he said.
Urging the government to address its own shortcomings rather than attack the opposition, Shafiqur said, “Instead of trying to tarnish the opposition’s image, try to find solutions to your own failures.”
He reiterated that the opposition would continue its struggle until people’s rights were restored.
“Our struggle will continue for as long as the rights of the people are not returned to the people,” he said.
