Bangladesh steps up aviation security drive ahead of ICAO audit from 26 October 

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) authorities are stepping up efforts to strengthen compliance with global standards through enhanced monitoring and capacity building initiatives ahead of its aviation security audit in Bangladesh from 26 October to 6 November 2026.

In this context, the Aviation Security (AVSEC) Division of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has organised a series of workshops to improve regulatory preparedness among foreign airline operators, according to a CAAB press release.

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

A total of 65 representatives from 36 foreign carriers participated in the sessions, which aimed to enhance understanding of Bangladesh’s aviation security framework and compliance obligations under the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP).

Officials said the initiative is part of broader preparations ahead of the ICAO audit, which follows the previous review conducted in 2018 but will apply updated standards and stricter compliance benchmarks.

Member (Security) of CAAB Air Commodore Md Asif Iqbal, attended the workshops as chief guest and said effective formulation and implementation of SSPs would strengthen airlines’ internal quality control systems, ensure adherence to national regulations and support smoother compliance during ICAO and other regulatory audits.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Mohammed Alamgir, Deputy Director and Chief AVSEC Inspector as well as an ICAO certified instructor and auditor, who outlined CAAB’s model SSP framework designed to guide foreign operators through the submission, review and approval process of station specific security procedures.

Director (AVSEC Policy and Certification) Iftakhar Jahan Hossain, senior consultant Group Captain (Retd) Khan Shahinul Bari, and security official Md Ariful Islam also spoke at the sessions as discussants.

Under the NCASP, all foreign airlines operating passenger and cargo services in Bangladesh are required to prepare a written SSP for each station and secure approval from CAAB. To support this, the AVSEC Division has introduced a standardised model SSP to streamline procedures and ensure consistency in compliance.

Officials said the upcoming ICAO audit will be a key milestone in assessing Bangladesh’s aviation security preparedness and alignment with international standards, expressing optimism that coordinated efforts will strengthen security, improve operational standards and enhance the country’s global standing.