Passengers in domestic flights have nearly doubled in five years, but safety issues at the airports across the country are yet to be addressed, especially medical facilities.
The domestic airports severely lack the capacity for providing medical care in an emergency or even to an ill passenger.
Authorities, however, say that efforts have been stepped up to ensure proper medical infrastructures at the airports.
“According to regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), it’s mandatory for all international airports to have a properly equipped healthcare unit in coordination with the nearest hospital,” said an official of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
He, however, said the ICAO regulations do not apply for airports operating domestic flights.
“The civil aviation authorities deal the issue based on number passengers. It’s imperative to have medical facilities in line with that, so that emergency situations can be handled,” he added.
There are now eight airports in Bangladesh, out of which commercial flights are operated and three of them are international.
Flight operation and passenger handling in five years:
Year | Number of flights | Number of passengers |
2013 | 12,526 | 648,019 |
2014 | 24,127 | 685,198 |
2015 | 32,212 | 912,644 |
2016 | 38,020 | 1,003,031 |
2017 | 38,057 | 1, 067,537 |
One of the staffers at Jessore airport is trained on first aid. “There’s no medical centre. We can provide first aid and then refer to the hospital, in case of emergency,” Alamgir Patthan, the airport’s manager, told Bangla Tribune.
The Syedpur airport, however, has a doctor. “There’s an office for the doctor, but no medical centre. However, an airport development project has been adopted and these issues will be addressed,” Manager Shaheen Ahmed said.
Inadequate infrastructure does not allow the Rajshahi airport for a medical centre, according Manager Setafur Rahman. The airport does have a medical assistant and a first aid crew, he added. “Once the infrastructure is there, for which measures have initiated, all the facilities can be ensured.”
CAAB says they have started the works to renovate as well as construct new terminal buildings for the domestic airports.
“Measures have been initiated to ensure proper facilities for passengers, including medical facilities and increasing the number of ambulances at the airports,” CAAB Member (Planning and Operations) Mostafizur Rahman told Bangla Tribune.
