Canadian company to protect Bangladesh airport

Bangladesh government is finalizing decision allowing Canadian security company, Visual Defense Inc [VDI] to undertake total responsibility of ensuring passenger safety and security at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka from end of 2011. According to information availed from ministry concerned, VDI will be investing US$ 40 million for modernization and reshuffling of the existing security systems at the international airport in Dhaka. The entire investment will be made by the Canadian company on BMT [Built-Maintain-Transfer] basis. Initially the agreement between VDI and Bangladesh government will be for 25 years. Once the company will complete installation of its security equipment at the airport, it will start charging "security fees" both for domestic and international flight from the airline companies, which are operating flights using Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Once the proposal submitted by VDI gets final approval of the Bangladesh government, at the first step, a tripartite agreement between Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh [CAAB], International Air Transport Association [IATA] and Visual Defense Inc [VDI] will be signed. Once this tripartite agreement is signed, VDI will inspect the existing security infrastructures at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and determine the size of security infrastructures VDI would install to ensure foolproof security measures. It may be mentioned here that, serious security lacking at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is one of the main issues of concerns for many aviation authorities in the world, especially those, connecting flights with this airport. Secondly, well-organized crime racket is active in luggage tempering at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for years, which has never been stopped following numerous policies adopted by the Bangladeshi side. It is evidently proved that, a large section of the existing employees of CAAB as well as Biman Bangladesh Airlines are directly involved in the luggage pilfering crimes. Once the security maintenance goes to VDI, the company will also ensure stopping the decade-old practices of luggage pilferage at this international airport.

Visual Defense Inc has proposed to install Perimeter Intruder Detection System [PIDS] within the boundaries of the airport to stop illegal entrants. In addition to PIDS, sensitive alarm systems and video surveillance devices will also be installed.

The company will also install passenger body scanning devices, which is already in use at various airports in United States. These devices are approved by Homeland Security in United States as well as Transportation Security Administration [TSA]. It may be mentioned here that scanning systems used by TSA has generated severe criticism in United States, as this system exposes the naked body of the passenger to the officers concerned deployed at the security counters. In some cases, male officers monitor the scanning results of the female passengers, which in other words, expose the naked body of the passenger concerned to the male officers. Most of the American airline passengers complain of sexual harassment by the TSA at various airports in the country. Related articles:

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Criticizing the installation of TSA proto-type equipment at Dhaka airport, a ministry insider on condition of anonymity said, "how a conservative Muslim country like Bangladesh will allow screening of naked female bodies by the male security officers at the airport? Moreover, such systems will also be applicable for the normal passengers, whereas the VIPs and VVIPs will not require going through such security systems."

The source said, "Bangladeshi VIPs and VVIPs [President, Prime Minister and their family members] never go through the security checking at any of the local airports. Who can guarantee that explosives or dangerous materials won't travel in the luggage of these 'privileged' people?"

Visual Defence Inc. provides public safety and security solutions for government, airport, mass transit, and commercial clients in Canada and internationally. Its products include SecurEye, a forensic witness system for analyzing pre-blast events; IP mDVSS, a surveillance and investigation system for mobile environments; and Mobile Rugged Platform, a data processor designed for operation in environments where the operating voltage ranges from 12V - 24V, such as cars, buses, and trains. The company also offers various software platforms, which include Command and Control Center, a common management platform for managing video, audio, and alarms generated from various subsystems; Virtual Matrix System, a management application for live and recorded video control and monitoring; Digital Video Storage System, a digital and audio storage system that provides a single system to store, query, review, and manage large amounts of recorded and live video and audio content from various sources; Mobile Digital Video Storage System, a digital video recorder for mobile architecture; Intercom Management System, a VoIP intercom solution; Door Management System, an access control system; mTouch, a touch screen CCTV surveillance camera management system; and VDEye, which enables the client to access video data on various devices, including laptops and tablet PCs. In addition, it offers various services, such as systems design, engineering, customized software development, training, system commissioning, network, security, technical assistance, and build-operate-transfer. The company serves customers in the airlines, education, fleet management, healthcare, municipal, public transportation, defense, homeland security, and retail sectors. Visual Defence Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Richmond Hill, Canada.

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Canadian company to protect Bangladesh airport

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