3 customs officials suspended for misbehaving with passenger at Dhaka airport
The action was taken as part of the government’s pledge to maintain a high standard of passenger service at the airport
The Dhaka Customs House has suspended three assistant revenue officers for mistreating a passenger at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
An office order, signed by Dhaka Customs House Commissioner Mobara Khanam, was issued on Tuesday (17 September) in this regard.
"The incident was not very serious, but our chairman directed us to take immediate action to protect the image of Biman Bangladesh," Commissioner Khanam told The Business Standard.
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The suspended officials are—Md Azizul Haque, Shimul Chowdhury, and Al Amin. Additionally, another ARO and a Sub-Inspector (SI) involved in the same incident have been "closed" and reassigned to the Custom House headquarters.
According to sources, the incident occurred on 15 September, when the officials checked the luggage of a returning passenger, unnecessarily opened the bag, and began taking chocolates. The passenger posted about the incident on social media, which drew the attention of the National Board of Revenue (NBR). They informed the customs commissioner, who promptly launched an investigation.
Upon verifying the initial claims, the commissioner immediately suspended the three AROs. The other ARO and the SI were reassigned to the headquarters pending further actions.
This swift response demonstrates a strong commitment to improving passenger experience and addressing misconduct. However, while the disciplinary measures may deter future misbehaviour, they may also raise concerns about maintaining staff morale and ensuring due process during internal investigations.
