Airports to get anti-drone system

The government has decided to install an anti-drone system at airports to prevent unauthorized drone flights and strengthen aviation security, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat announced on Thursday.

The decision was made at the first meeting of the reconstituted National Civil Aviation Security Committee (NCASC) held at the headquarters of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) in Dhaka.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, who chaired the meeting, directed authorities to enforce the same security protocols for all passengers, including VIPs and CIPs, to ensure airport security.

She also instructed the swift implementation of decisions taken at the committee’s 13th meeting, noting that an upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit would have a significant impact on Bangladesh’s international image.

“The country’s compliance with ICAO standards must be ensured by addressing all possible observations before the audit,” she said.

Afroza Khanam also emphasized improving passenger services, particularly for expatriate Bangladeshis, describing it as one of the government’s priorities.

State Minister Millat said an initiative would be taken to deploy anti-drone systems around airports to prevent unauthorized drone operations. He noted that the NCASC meeting was held after nearly three years and stressed the need for effective implementation of its decisions.

He also called for maintaining an adequate number of security equipment and scanners at airports, saying it is better to have more security resources than the minimum required.

The state minister further instructed members of law enforcement agencies to take strict action against any violations of aviation security laws.