Bangladesh Ramps Up Aviation Security Ahead Of ICAO Audit From October 26

In line with this, the Aviation Security (AVSEC) Division of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) organized a series of workshops aimed at strengthening regulatory compliance among foreign airline operators, read a press release of CAAB.

The three-day workshops, held from April 5 to 7 at CAAB headquarters in Dhaka, focused on the preparation of Supplementary Station Procedures (SSP), a mandatory requirement for all foreign airlines operating in Bangladesh.

A total of 65 representatives from 36 foreign airlines participated in the sessions, which were designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of Bangladesh's aviation security framework and the regulatory expectations under the National Civil Aviation Security Program (NCASP).

Officials said the initiative is part of broader efforts to ensure that all operators are fully aligned with both national and international security standards ahead of the ICAO audit, which follows the last review conducted in 2018 but comes with updated compliance benchmarks.

Air Commodore Md Asif Iqbal, Member (Security) of CAAB, attended the workshops as chief guest. He stressed that proper development and implementation of SSPs would strengthen internal quality control mechanisms of airlines, ensure adherence to national regulations, and facilitate smoother compliance during audits conducted by ICAO and other relevant authorities.

The keynote was delivered by Mohammad Alamgir, Deputy Director (Chief AVSEC Inspector) and an ICAO-certified instructor and auditor, who explained CAAB's model SSP framework. The model is intended to guide foreign operators through the process of preparation, submission, review, and final approval of their station-specific security procedures.

Among others, Director (AVSEC Policy and Certification) Iftekhar Jahan Hossain, senior consultant Group Captain (Retd) Khan Shaheenul Bari, and security official Md Ariful Islam took part in the sessions as discussants.

Under the NCASP, all foreign airlines operating passenger and cargo services in Bangladesh are required to develop a written SSP for each airport or station and obtain approval from CAAB. To facilitate this, the AVSEC Division has developed a standardized model SSP to streamline the process and ensure uniformity in compliance.

Officials noted that the upcoming ICAO audit is not only a regulatory requirement but also a significant milestone for Bangladesh's aviation sector, as it will assess the country's overall security preparedness and its alignment with global best practices.

They expressed hope that such coordinated initiatives would enhance the country's ability to meet international standards, strengthen operational security, and reinforce Bangladesh's position in the global aviation landscape.

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