Their enthusiasm was soon stifled and simmered as they pushed and pulled their way through the crowds and witnessed the confusion at the airport.

The flight, scheduled to take off at 10:00 AM, was delayed and Jasim made every effort to find out how long the delay would be and when exactly the craft would take off. He made inquiries at the 'Information Centre' and waited.

To his utter amazement and disappointment, he found that the 'information' he had received from the 'Information centre' had not been correct. He realised this after a never-ending waiting of over five hours inside the departure lounge, where he entered with his brother. Taka 250 each for three more persons to enter the concourse hall, weighed a little too much on his purse, so the others his old father and cousins had to wait outside in the open.

"I was worried wondering how they managed to wait outside in the heat and pushing their way through the crowds for such a long time," said Jasim talking to the Star City.

ZIA International Airport's lack of proper screens displaying schedules of arrivals and departures, changes and delays, entrance and exit gate numbers and any other necessary flight information, cause much inconvenience and discomfort to thousands of people going in and out of the airport.

International and domestic airports around the world have display screens installed at various points inside and out of the buildings at locations where passengers and visitors are able to have a clear view of all flight information. Apart from the unavailability of display screens at ZIA, the announcements are inaudible as well.

Since its inception in early 1980, ZIA underwent a lot of renovations but installment of digital screens at important locations have long been absent from its list of projects.

Although there are a few display screens in the departure lounge, they are sparingly found in the concourse hall and none outside at a distance where waiting visitors can find out what is really going on. Off the few screens in the departure lounge, a large number of them require repairs, complain most passengers.

Without such information, lower-middle class and those who come to ZIA from remote areas to receive a passenger wait over three to eight hours outside, under whatever weather conditions. And for those with financial constraints, like in Jasim's case, most people wait outside without information of a flight departure.

The payment of an entry fee of Tk 50 for a person to enter the arrival lounge concourse hall to wait till relatives or the 'close one' lands, restricts most visitors from entering the waiting area.

As such, most of these visitors wait outside further adding to the huge mass of confusion.

"It took me over 15 minutes to figure out whatever was displayed on one of the screens as it was too dark," said Khalil, a visitor who had come to see a relative fly off.

Relatives as well as travellers, also suffer because of malpractice of airport personnel on duty at the 'Announcement Centre'. Although announcements should be made free for all visitors, these personnel still ask for bakhshish (tips) for each announcement made.

According to visitors to the airport, the personnel bank on whatever they can get out of the visitors.

"I saw an officer on duty taking five Riyals from a passenger, who had just arrived from Dubai and needed to have an announcement made to locate his relatives who were waiting outside the building," said Runu, a member of the ZIA Cab Owners and Drivers Association.

On the other hand, a few visitors alleged that on-duty officers at the information center are reluctant to provide information.

Lighting, too, around the airport needs improvement and the problems seem to be increasing each day.

ZIA's Director, Wing Commander Humayun Kabir is hopeful of the improvements that will take place soon. "We will install digital display screens flashing accurate information within two months at important points of the airport. We hope this step will facilitate the needs of many that come here," he said.

The prominent spots marked for the installation of these screens will include the concourse halls, departure, arrival, VIP, VVIP lounges and in the customs area.