The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has undertaken a comprehensive initiative to strengthen bird-strike prevention at airports nationwide through procurement of modern deterrent equipment, recruitment of dedicated personnel, and improved wildlife-hazard management systems.
The aviation regulator aims to equip all operational airports with adequate bird-control equipment, trained manpower, and effective monitoring systems within the next two to three years, ensuring safer aircraft operations and minimising aviation hazards.
CAAB Member (Air Traffic Management) Air Commodore Md Noor-e-Alam disclosed the plans to BSS, saying the authority was taking coordinated measures to address existing equipment and manpower shortages while introducing a sustainable bird-hazard management framework.
Nationwide equipment procurement planned
Noor-e-Alam said CAAB had assessed the requirement for bird-deterrent guns at eight airports and identified a nationwide need for 26 guns to maintain effective bird-control operations.
According to the assessment, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka requires six guns, while Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram, Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, and Cox’s Bazar Airport require four each. Rajshahi, Saidpur, Jashore, and Barishal airports require two guns each.
CAAB currently possesses 11 bird-deterrent guns, of which two, one each at Sylhet and Barishal airports, are operational.
The authority has already initiated steps for license renewal and subsequent procurement to enhance bird-control capabilities.
Noor-e-Alam said strengthening the availability of functional equipment would help airport authorities effectively deter birds from runways and aircraft movement areas, particularly during critical takeoff and landing phases.
Recruitment of dedicated personnel
Alongside equipment procurement, CAAB is preparing to strengthen its bird-control workforce to ensure sustained monitoring and effective preventive operations.
The authority has identified a nationwide requirement for 64 dedicated bird shooters against its existing establishment of 10 sanctioned positions, of which four are currently filled.
Noor-e-Alam said CAAB’s Table of Organisation and Equipment (TO&E) was being reviewed to accommodate existing and future manpower requirements.
Under the proposed arrangement, Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, and Cox’s Bazar airports would each require 11 bird shooters, while Rajshahi, Saidpur, Jashore, and Barishal airports would require five each.
The proposed expansion is expected to strengthen round-the-clock bird-control capabilities, particularly at major international airports.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Air Force is providing bird-control support from sunrise to sunset at Dhaka, Chattogram, and Jashore airports.
The support is helping maintain preventive operations while CAAB takes steps to expand its own equipment and manpower capabilities.
Modern bird-monitoring systems to expand
As part of its long-term aviation safety program, CAAB plans to gradually introduce modern Bird Control Monitoring Systems (BCMS) at airports across Bangladesh.
Noor-e-Alam said HSIA already had a functional BCMS, which would serve as a reference for expanding similar facilities to other airports.
The planned introduction of monitoring systems, alongside trained personnel and deterrent equipment, is expected to strengthen the identification and management of bird hazards in airport operational areas.
The authority is also pursuing measures to improve the maintenance, licensing, and continued availability of bird-control equipment.
Regulatory reforms facilitate procurement
CAAB has also taken steps to resolve administrative complications involving licenses for bird-control firearms.
Previously, licences were issued against individual officials, creating difficulties when license holders were transferred or retired.
A recent regulatory exemption has introduced provisions for issuing licenses against designated official positions instead of individual officers.
The measure is expected to facilitate uninterrupted licensing, procurement, and deployment of bird-control equipment.
Environmental management receives priority
Recognising that equipment and personnel alone cannot eliminate bird-strike risks, CAAB has intensified efforts to improve environmental conditions around airports.
The authority has initiated measures to clear excessive vegetation and bushes near airport premises to discourage birds from gathering around aircraft movement areas.
CAAB has also sought cooperation from relevant city corporations to remove garbage dumping and storage sites, particularly locations where food waste attracts birds.
Noor-e-Alam emphasised the importance of coordination among airport management, local government institutions, and other stakeholders to address wildlife hazards extending beyond airport boundaries.
A study conducted by an agricultural university previously identified between 115 and 120 bird species in Dhaka, including 66 to 67 species in and around HSIA.
The research, covering 129 locations within a 10-kilometer radius of the airport, identified 3,886 hotels and restaurants, 753 fresh produce markets, 663 slaughterhouses, and 1,335 waste disposal centers.
The findings highlighted the need for coordinated environmental management to reduce bird concentrations near aircraft operating areas.
National committee to strengthen coordination
A national committee on bird strikes and wildlife-hazard management has recently been formed under the leadership of Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat.
Noor-e-Alam said the committee’s first meeting was expected to take place in November 2026.
The committee is expected to provide further guidelines for improving wildlife-hazard management, strengthening interagency coordination, and implementing effective preventive measures at airports.
Although the overall cost of nationwide procurement, recruitment, and wildlife-hazard management has yet to be determined, CAAB has initiated the necessary administrative and operational preparations.
Bird-strike monitoring strengthened
CAAB’s latest airport-wise statistics showed that 212 bird-strike incidents were recorded nationwide between January 1 and October 29 this year, compared with 239 during the whole of 2025.
HSIA recorded 168 incidents during the first 10 months of 2026, compared with 157 throughout 2025.
Chattogram recorded 12 incidents this year against 40 last year, while Sylhet reported eight against 13.
Cox’s Bazar reported one incident against two last year, Rajshahi recorded 10 in both periods, and Saidpur reported 13 this year against 17 in 2025.
No incidents were reported at Jashore and Barishal airports during either period.
Bird strikes can damage aircraft engines, disrupt flight schedules, and occasionally require emergency landings, making effective wildlife-hazard management an important component of aviation safety.
With winter approaching, the aviation regulator is prioritising preventive measures to minimise risks associated with increased bird movements.
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