Friends

I have a question to ask.. Have you ever been to Dhaka airport from which ever country you came from and got hassled by the staff there? Be it for whatever reason but the majority of people i know who are traveling to Bangladesh always get prepared to pay a bribe to the airport staff so they dont get any hassle. Me personally when i was arriving back to the U.K i went to Zia International Airport i checked in, weighed my hand luggage  and everything was fine. When i went into the Boarding area  i was stopped by the airport staff and asked to weigh my luggage again. I explained that i have already weighed it and it was passed so why are you weighing it again? the staff said this is a routing check and they are obliged to. i agreed as i know that that my luggage is within the weight limit cos i checked it earlier. when they weighed it they said that my hand luggage it too heavy to board the plane. I said this is ridiculous i just weighed it earlier by YOUR staff and it was fine! They wouldn't take no for an answer and no matter what i said they didnt help the situation. Suddenly the Airport staff said in a slow voice "Pay 1000 taka and we will let you go with the hand luggage" i was GOBSMACKED! This is insane i said, why should i pay you when i havnt done anything wrong. I was adamant that i wont pay but it just made the situation worse and my mother was with me and i could tell that she was getting frightened. i finally gave in and paid 500 taka that was with me at the time and they let me through. On the plane my mum said this is a normal thing at the Airports in Bangladesh they target foreigners and make up reasons to put them in a stressful situation and get bribes to get them out of the situation.

Recently someone i know hit the U.K headlines Barrister Rizwan Husain a good friend of mine who offered to help an elderly lady in Zia International airport who was getting hassled from the Airport staff. the elderly lady was my Business partners Mother inlaw  who was having problems with her Airline ticket. She was accompanied by child who was frightened at this situation. Mr Rizwan Hussain was in the Airport at the time dropping her sister off and noticed the elderly lady (who he knows personally) in some trouble and offered to help.

He to was getting nowhere with helping and demanded that he took the names of the airport staff but they refused to give it saying they dont have to. Mr Rizwan said "i know you have to by LAW cos i am a Barrister by profession so take me to your superior because you are treating this lady unfairly and i am getting nowhere with you. They took him to the Leading Officer and Mr Rizwan ~Complained of the treatment of the Airport staff and unlawful treatment to the elderly lady and child. Mr Rizwan was then taken to a room and to make it short he was BEATEN for an hour in TWO intervals. this resulted in his Arm and leg being broken.

He was released and lucky to be alive today but Mr rizwan is a well known, respected person in the U.K community and where are looking for justice and a changed in the Bangladesh airport system

More info check this blog 

 http://tsu-doh-nimh.blogspot.com/2008/04/rizwan-hussain-what-could-have-been.html

I tried to get media footage on this but this is the best of what i can find out there

PETITION FOR JUSTICE
     http://www.petitiononline.com/rizwan/petition.html

By lookin at your face airport  official no how rich N foreign u r. i am traveling alone from (17-23), never got  this kind of experience(i got opposite picture than above).

they respect  U the way U treat them.

anyway cheers mate 

Maybe your the lucky one brother

You didnt get you hands and leg broken like the person above  

so sad... but, itz very natural thing for Biman and Zia  Itnl' airport .

Absolutely abysmal airline & port ...very shocking service...

Dat not n airport ... we should call it f***n "Zoo" 

Kolkata local rail station iz more better den our Zia intl' airport .

I just want to clarify one thing.

This not intent to any Bangladeshis or any political group its purely to the staff and officials at Zia International Airport

I think we should raise awareness so nobody gets treated like this in the future. You see my point is if this current Situation with  Barrister Rizwan hussain goes ignored then the Officials and staff at the Airport will think nothing will happen to them if they harass foreigners or visitors and they may do it more. We must put an END TO THIS

what has this got to do with what color your passport is? Thats not fair brother Visitors are targeted for them to gain a bribe

Voices get raised to get out of a vunrebal situation put in place by the Airport staff  

What local traditions are you on about? is there not freedom of speech in Bangladesh? Is the local tradition  Dont say a word, DO as they say, pay what they say and if not you will get your hands and legs broken then NO WAY!

WE MUST STOP THIS

There is a on line petition to high Commissioner, your help will be appreciated

http://www.petitiononline.com/rizwan/petition.html 

It‘s hurt the most when they left the country for better life and complain about Bangladesh. Please Go and Fix the problem than criticize. It’s easier to say than done.  Your country needs you...

i never ever seen a fool like U......................lol^^

*******neva mind .... 

Well sk_jasim i wud like to repeat ur own words "Please learn your fact before posting" & advise u to stop arguing like stupid. This thread is not complaint against Bangladesh it's about certain group of pplz. Hope this makes senses to u my frnd.