Norwegian expat assaulted by airport security at Dhaka Airport

A Norwegian expatriate was assaulted by security personnel at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Wednesday night.

The incident left the expat Sayeed Uddin bloodied and injured. The authorities fined him Tk5,000 later that night for allegedly obstructing a public servant.

Witnesses reported that the altercation began around 9:15pm when Sayeed exited the airport through Canopy Gate 2. A verbal dispute with an Aviation Security (Avsec) member escalated when Sayeed allegedly pushed the officer. In response, several Avsec and Ansar members dragged him to the concourse hall, where they severely beat him.

“Sayeed’s head and face were injured, and he was bleeding profusely,” said a source who saw him shortly after the attack.

Video footage of the aftermath, showing Sayeed’s bloodied body and parts of the altercation, has gone viral on social media, sparking public outrage.

In the video, Sayeed is heard saying: “You all are beating me together, five or six of you,” while a security officer justifies the violence, claiming: “You pushed me. I’m in uniform.” Sayeed denies this in the footage, insisting: “I didn’t push you.”

Later that night, Sayeed was presented before the airport magistrate court and fined Tk5,000 under Section 189 of the Penal Code, which penalizes threats or obstruction of public servants. The section allows for up to two years of imprisonment or fines, or both.

Airport Executive Director Group Captain Mohammad Kamrul Islam confirmed the incident in a written statement, describing it as a response to “two passengers physically assaulting a security member.”

According to his statement, Sayeed and his group of five passengers obstructed the airport gate with a trolley, ignoring repeated requests from security personnel to move. He alleged that Sayeed and his son verbally abused and later assaulted one of the officers, leading to the scuffle.

Public sentiment over the incident remains critical. “What could be more humiliating for an expat than being beaten at the airport upon returning home?” commented an airport official who asked to remain anonymous.

Videos of the assault continue to circulate, with many questioning the response of the security personnel and the decision to fine the injured passenger.