The full-scale emergency exercise took place at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Sunday to meet the requirements set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, officials have said. Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh hosted the ‘two-yearly’ airport emergency exercise 2013 in coordination with other agencies including fire service and civil defense for handling any real-time emergency at the airport, the officials said.
Besides, the fire fighters, members of Armed Forces Division, law enforcers and physicians were on hand for the exercise for enhancing the conscious skills at the time of airport emeragency.
A bamboo-made aircraft replica of Boeing 737 was set up and set on fire for a fire drill during the exercise.
Ten people were made to seem dead and 20 others injured among the 110 passengers on board.
The fire engine extinguished the fire within 10 minutes while the rescuers were seen saving the victims inside the wreckage.
Civil aviation and tourism minister ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader watched the exercise as chief guest while the CAAB chairman Air Vice Marshal Mahmud Hossain and high officials of different participating agencies were present.
The CAAB officials said as per the requirements set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation such exercise was to be organised at least once in every two years.
The last drill was held on May 9, 2012.
Addressing the function, the minister, Ruhul Amin, said the airport would be equipped with more modern facilities as well as beautified very soon.
The minister suggested holding such exercise annually while the CAAB chief opposed it saying it involved a huge amount of money to hold the drill successfully.
The authorities, however, did not disclose the cost involved in the exercise.
‘It will take time to ascertain the cost,’ said the CAAB public relations officer, AKM Rezaul Karim.
-With New Age input
