Chaotic crowding at Dhaka airport

The arrival canopy and departure driveway areas at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) have turned chaotic as large numbers of people crowd the spaces to see off or welcome relatives, disrupting passenger movement and creating traffic congestion.

In August, the airport authorities instructed that a maximum of two people would be allowed to accompany passengers at the departure driveway and arrival canopy. But during recent visits to Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, it was seen that no one followed the rule.

The situation worsens when several flights land within a short time, as many visitors flock to the canopy area, often crossing the security fence. Despite signboards at both entrances prohibiting the entry of co-passengers and visitors, few pay attention.

Security personnel were seen making repeated announcements, urging visitors to give way to passengers and vehicles, but people rarely moved until they had received or seen off relatives.

Visitors swarmed the areas like bees after flights landed, with some even waiting at the departure driveway until planes took off. Many arriving passengers boarded waiting vehicles directly from the canopy, but the overflow of visitors often turned the space into a marketplace, disrupting smooth exit and adding to congestion.

Syed Ali, who came from Pabna with five relatives to receive his uncle, said he felt it was necessary to be there.

Another visitor, Rabeya Shimu from Rajshahi, who also came with four relatives, said relatives from abroad feel displeased if no one comes to receive them, though she admitted the environment would improve if visitor numbers were controlled.

On average, 160 to 165 international flights operate daily from HSIA, which has a capacity of eight million passengers a year but handled 12.5 million last year.

Around 30,000 passengers travel through the airport daily. "It means nearly 1,250 passengers travel per hour. If at least two persons accompany each passenger, the number goes to around 4,000," said Executive Director SM Ragib Samad.

"Even after security officials drop co-passengers or visitors off from the car, they enter into the canopy area using the wrong side. Now tell me, from which side will you check the visitors? We cannot deploy force to control each person," he told The Daily Star.

"We are continuously giving announcements through loudspeakers that not more than two persons will be allowed inside the canopy area. But no one is paying heed. When people don't listen, we are not in a position to enforce it, because it may have the opposite effect. Allegations of mistreatment with passengers and visitors will be raised, and everything will go viral," he added.

Many people, especially those from distant districts, arrive at the airport with relatives 10 to 11 hours before flights scheduled early in the morning or late at night, considering road conditions and safety. Although the authorities have arranged a waiting lounge at the multi-level car park for passengers and visitors, few make use of it.