A bomb threat message was received on a Bangladesh Airlines flight from Rome to Dhaka, prompting an extensive security response. The threat, which came from a Pakistani number, claimed that 34 kilograms of high-level explosives were aboard flight BG-536. The message was sent via WhatsApp to the Airport’s Air Police Duty Officer at 4:37 AM on Wednesday.

According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the message warned of explosives on the flight, which was scheduled to land at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport at 9:20 AM. Upon arrival, the 250 passengers and 13 crew members were safely evacuated.

Group Captain Kamrul Islam, Executive Director of Shahjalal Airport, confirmed that they had received the bomb threat and followed proper protocols. "Upon receiving the bomb threat about the Rome flight, we took immediate action by following the prescribed procedures," he said.

In a statement, Bangladesh Airlines assured that after a thorough search of the aircraft, passengers, and luggage, no suspicious items were found. The search lasted for about three hours, after which passengers completed immigration procedures and continued their journey.

The airline also stated that as per security protocols, the aircraft was immediately secured upon landing in Dhaka. All passengers and their baggage were searched as part of the security check. Once the search concluded with no hazardous material found, the flight was cleared by security authorities at 12:30 PM.

Following the clearance, all passengers were safely allowed to leave the airport by 1:30 PM.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police added that as soon as the threat was received, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, along with bomb disposal and canine units, joined in the search operation.

Earlier, at around 10 AM, Bangladesh Airlines’ Public Relations Officer Bosra Islam stated, "There was a threat to our Rome flight, and we took all necessary measures. However, the flight landed smoothly at 9:20 AM, and all passengers and crew are safe. It appears that the threat was a hoax."