In a dramatic turn of events, a woman staged a fake bomb threat at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by calling air traffic controller to prevent her married son from boarding a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight to Kathmandu with his girlfriend, authorities revealed on Saturday.
The woman, whose name was not disclosed, made a phone call to air traffic control on Friday afternoon (12 July), falsely claiming that a bomb was planted on Biman flight BG-373, which was preparing to depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with 142 passengers and seven crew members.
The call triggered a full-scale emergency response. The aircraft, already on the runway, was halted. Passengers were evacuated, and a bomb disposal unit from the Bangladesh Air Force, along with teams from the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), conducted an intensive three-hour search of the aircraft and luggage.
“No explosives were found,” said RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman during a press briefing on Saturday morning in Karwan Bazar. “The entire operation was based on a hoax—engineered by a mother desperate to stop her son’s journey.”
According to investigators, the son, Emon, was travelling with his girlfriend to Kathmandu despite already being married. Emon’s mother, distressed by her son’s decision, sought advice from his friend Imran. Imran suggested that a fake bomb threat could stop the flight. Acting on that advice, she made the call.
RAB officials confirmed that three individuals, including the mother, have been arrested in connection with the incident. “This was not just an irresponsible act—it was criminal,” said the RAB DG. “Such actions harm national security, damage our international reputation, and disrupt public safety. The perpetrators will face strict legal consequences.”
He further noted that the bomb threat not only delayed the flight but also shook airport operations and triggered widespread panic.
The flight was finally cleared after security teams completed their inspection at 7:58pm. All passengers were safe, and no injuries were reported.
Authorities have reminded the public that any threats to aviation security, real or fabricated, are treated with the utmost seriousness under anti-terror laws.
