Relationship with Pakistan further threatens Bangladesh’s Security Framework
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight traveling from Rome, Italy, to Dhaka, Bangladesh, received a bomb threat, forcing an emergency landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to ensure the safety of its 250 passengers. Authorities promptly took precautionary measures following the alert. This information was reported by the popular Bangladeshi online news platform Dhaka Post.
Sources at the Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn) revealed to the news outlet that the threat message was sent to the official WhatsApp number of the APBn duty officer. At the time, ASP Abdul Hannan was on duty. The message claimed that the flight, en route from Rome to Dhaka, carried 34 kilograms of explosives that would be detonated after the plane landed at Shahjalal Airport.
The WhatsApp number from which the message originated was identified as Pakistani, according to APBn. The message reportedly stated that it was a precautionary warning and not a direct threat.
Despite attempts to call the number after receiving the message, there was no response. However, chat communication on WhatsApp continued while authorities issued an alert.
When asked during the chat who had planted the explosives, the response suggested that an opposing party might have done it to attract international attention.
The flight in question, BG-356, received the bomb threat while traveling from Rome to Dhaka. News of the incident caused panic among passengers, prompting heightened security measures at the airport.
The flight made an emergency landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 9:20 AM on Wednesday, January 22. Passengers were kept in the terminal building, and immigration processing was temporarily suspended. A thorough search of the plane was conducted, but no bombs or bomb-like objects were found.
Sources confirmed that every part of the plane was searched, including all passenger baggage, but no explosives were discovered. Passengers were later reunited with their belongings.
The flight had departed from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport on Tuesday, January 21, at 8:00 PM local time.
The Bangladesh Interim Government, led by Prof. Dr. Mohammad Younus, has established a relationship with its historical adversary, Pakistan. Not only has the government taken this step, but the Bangladeshi Army has also been working to strengthen ties with the Pakistan Army. Recently, high-ranking officials of the Bangladeshi Army visited senior personnel of the Pakistan Army, marking a significant development since the Liberation War of 1971. These actions have raised concerns about Bangladesh’s security, as they risk undermining national stability. The law and order situation in the country has already deteriorated, and the growing relationship with Pakistan further threatens Bangladesh’s security framework.