'Alert, not threat': Text from Pakistani number claimed about possible explosives on Biman flight, says CAA 

Dhaka airport authorities were informed through a text from a Pakistani number about "possible explosive substances" on a Biman Bangladesh flight returning from Rome.

"The control room of the Armed Police Battalion's [APBn] Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport unit received the text" from an unknown Pakistani number, Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan, chairman of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), told journalists in a meeting this afternoon (22 January).

Earlier on the day, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) also made a similar statement, clarifying earlier reports that claimed it came as a call from an unidentified number.

"The duty officer of the Armed Police Battalion's [APBn] Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport unit received the bomb threat message through WhatsApp from an unknown Pakistani number at 4:37am," DMP said in a message sent to media.

"The message reads that the Biman flight BG-536 was carrying 34kg of high-grade explosives."

The CAA chairman said the APBn later forwarded the text to the airport's chief executive director.

He noted that the text mentioned that it was intended as an alert and not a threat.

Authorities concerned later call the number, but their call went unanswered.

"A call was made from the airport but it was not received from the other end. However, chats on WhatsApp continued at the same time, and everyone was alerted," said the CAA chairman.

He went on to say the sender of the text also provided pictures of some "suspicious luggage" but upon searching, security forces did not find anything inside the bags.

"After receiving the message, we informed all the security forces of the airport and the Air Force. After that everyone prepared very quickly."

However, no normal flight, immigration or cargo was stopped at this time, he said.

In response to a question on whether the text was false, Monjur said they will take action if they receive any such information. "Because every single human life is very valuable to us."

"However, if such incidents happen again and again, complications are created and it is not good," he commented.

Earlier in the morning, Captain Kamrul Islam, group executive director of the Dhaka airport said a bomb threat was received for a Biman flight from an unidentified caller.

Upon receiving the information, the bomb disposal unit of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crimes (CTTC) and the Canine unit joined the combined forces and conducted a drive.

However, upon thorough inspection of the aircraft, no threat was found on it. The aircraft was carrying 250 passengers and 13 crew members.