Chaos at Shah Amanat Airport as Stranded Passengers Protest Flight Disruptions
Passengers of several Biman Bangladesh Airlines flights vandalised airport chairs at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram after protesting the absence of food arrangements when their flights were diverted due to dense fog.
The protest erupted after passengers were left waiting for more than six hours without any food or refreshments. The prolonged delay and lack of basic facilities led to growing frustration among the stranded travellers.
According to airport sources, three international flights from Delhi, Muscat, and Kuwait landed at Shah Amanat International Airport between 3:00am and 4:00am on Friday as they were unable to land in Dhaka due to poor visibility caused by fog. More than a thousand passengers were on board the flights.
Despite the extended wait at the airport, no food was arranged for the passengers. Eventually, the flights departed again for Dhaka later in the morning and afternoon.
Angered by what they described as serious mismanagement by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, passengers staged protests inside the terminal, during which several airport chairs were damaged.
The incident caused embarrassment for airport authorities, with passengers demanding an investigation into the incident and accountability from the airline.
Shah Amanat International Airport’s Public Relations Officer, Engineer Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, said that the passengers lost patience due to the lengthy waiting period and the absence of food facilities. He added that some airport chairs were damaged during the unrest, but security personnel later brought the situation under control.
