ZCZC
BSS-66
PISTOL-KANCHAN -SCANNER LEAD
Ilias Kanchan’s pistol was detected by airport scanner: ministry
(UPDATES with CAAB investigations)
DHAKA, March 7, 2019 (BSS) – The civil aviation and tourism ministry today
affirmed that the pistol and ammunitions of film star Ilias Kanchan was
detected by anti hijacking point scanner of the domestic terminal of Hazrat
Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) here when the actor passed security
checking on Tuesday.
“The truth is that a laptop bag of Kanchan containing a licensed firearm
and bullets were detected by the anti-hijacking point scanner of the
airport’s domestic terminal,” the ministry said in a statement.
On that day Kanchan, who is also the Chairman of Safe Road Movement went to
the domestic terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal Airport with a licensed 9mm pistol
and live bullets for boarding a Novoair flight to Chattogram.
The statement said Kanchan told the media that he forgot about the firearm
in his laptop bag and passed the heavy luggage scanner undetected.
Going to the Novoair booking counter, Kanchan realised that he had a gun
in his laptop bag which was not detected by the scanner. Then he informed the
matter to the airport authority and on duty officers and expressed his
apology about the incident, it said quoting the actor.
Quoting Ilias Kanchan the release said that he told to media: “I myself
went to them (airport authority) to declare that I was carrying firearms
after passing the first scanner undetected. I had made complaint about why my
arms was not detected by the scanner?”
However, in its press release, the ministry denied Kanchan’s statement to
media terming it false and fake.
“Ilias Kanchan is reputedly making false statements to media regarding the
incident to protect his personal image,” said the release.
It said the actual incident is that the firearm was detected by the anti-
hijack scanner and the security personnel asked him about the matter.
As Kanchan admitted his mistake, then the security personnel requested him
to carry the licensed firearm following official procedures, the release
said.
As per instruction of the security personnel, Kanchan went back to the
airlines counter and took the firearms and ammunition following the legal
procedure.
The ministry, meanwhile, formed a two-member committee to investigate the
incident, asking it to submit the report within three working days, an
official familiar with the process told BSS.
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), on the other hand, said the
security system of international and domestic terminals of the HSIA is very
firm, safe and dependable as per International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) standard.
The CAAB requested all not to be confused or worried about the security
system of the HSIA, it added.
BSS/PR/TA/ARS/2018 hrs