Dhaka : Md Mahbub Ali, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, admitted passengers are suffering currently due to the shortage of baggage cart trolleys at Dhaka Airport. Hence, he claimed, the airport will be adding 2,500 new trolleys in February 2022.
"Many passengers have suffered due to the trolley crisis in the last one or two days. We have already taken effective measures in this regard," the State Minister said at a briefing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on December 12.
Earlier, the junior minister visited the departure lounge of two terminals of the airport and spoke with several passengers over different issues.
There are a total of 2,000 trolleys at the airport currently. Of these, about 600 went out of commission, said Mahbub.
"It was not possible to repair the obsolete trolleys due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But we are now repairing these every day. At present, the total number of serviceable trolleys is 1,400. Another 500 trolleys will be operational in 4-5 days," he added.
In the last three days, a large number of passengers have been arriving and departing from the Dhaka airport, said Mahbub.
"We have assigned 32 workers to solve the trolley crisis and they will deliver trolleys to passengers in their need. Another 50 people will be hired for this job soon," added the State Minister.
At the same time, the state minister warned that if any airport staff is found behind the trolley crisis, action would be taken against them. "If necessary, they will be fired."
"Necessary instructions have also been given to the concerned authorities to ensure that passengers get their luggage back to the country as soon as possible," he added.