The first shock was that my wife and I could not enter the check-in area on payment of concourse fee of Tk. 250/- each as previously allowed. We wanted to take care of the children and help to check-in the heavy baggage. This was denied to us at the entry gate. No senior officer was present to hear our pleading and 'security' at the 2-3 gates repeated parrot-like that the 'authorities' had ordered him or her not allow anybody to get in. A notice to this effect, signed by the 'authorities' was pasted on the ticket counter.

We had to wait standing for over three hours in hot and humid conditions, while my daughter frequently came to the other side with the children to convey news. Finally, the airline was good enough to issue boarding cards to them which enabled us to leave. During this time there was a milling crowd of people mostly elderly, seeing off their loved ones who were frequently pushed roughly by batons to leave the gate which was the only place from where some communication was possible through sign language. Even this was difficult as our ears were continuously assaulted by dozens of whistles being blown. Ultimately, I had to stand my ground and tell the 'security' to do their worst as I would not leave because if my children could not board, I should be there to take them back home.

How do the airport 'authorities' expect the old, infirm, women with small children, handicapped, to cope with the requirements of bureaucracy all in the name of 'security'. To be frank, I did not see a single individual who was bullied by the 'security', to have even a semblance of being a 'terrorist'. Will the airport 'authorities' explain how hordes of 'chamchas' manage to get into the sacred portals of the airport whenever their leaders travel? Is this a new way to channel legal revenue into the pockets of airport staff?