Aviation minister to sit at CAAB office once a week

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat plans to work from the office of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) once a week with an eye to strengthening coordination between the ministry and its agencies and speeding up administrative decision-making.

A separate office for the minister is being prepared on the sixth floor of the CAAB headquarters, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Preparations are already under way to ensure the necessary infrastructure and official facilities for the minister's weekly office.

After taking charge, Millat had said he was interested in working from either the CAAB or Biman Bangladesh Airlines office for one day during the five-day working week to facilitate direct coordination among the ministry, CAAB, Biman and other relevant agencies.

Officials said the minister's regular presence at CAAB would help accelerate decisions and implementation relating to major aviation projects, airport development, flight operations, aviation security and administrative matters.

They said direct oversight would also be easier on key issues such as the expansion and development of airports, the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and the development of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

The initiative is expected to strengthen coordination between the ministry and its agencies and help resolve operational and administrative issues more quickly, officials said.