Staff reporter:
An International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit team expressed satisfaction with Bangladesh’s progress in strengthening aviation security, saying its latest audit found no major security concerns.
ICAO audit team leader Callum Lewis Vine said Bangladesh’s aviation security system had improved significantly since the previous assessment, according to a Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) press release.
He made the remarks at a dinner hosted by CAAB in honour of the ICAO delegation following the completion of the audit. Vine praised CAAB and other agencies for their initiatives to strengthen aviation security and improve coordination.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, who attended the dinner as chief guest, said meeting international aviation security standards remained a government priority.
He said a strong security system is essential to the government’s plans to acquire new aircraft, expand international routes, launch direct Dhaka-New York flights and develop Bangladesh as an aviation hub linking East and West.
Millat credited the audit’s successful completion to the joint preparations of CAAB, its Aviation Security Division and other agencies.
He praised CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq for overseeing preparations and holding regular review meetings, and thanked the ICAO team for its cooperation and feedback.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Dr Nurun Nahar Chowdhury, the CAAB chairman and other senior officials attended the event.
The audit team also included Pathberiya Appuhamilage Jayakantha of Sri Lanka, Alessandra Arenas of the Philippines and Shaikh Abdullah Bin Ab Sukor of Singapore.
