UK to conduct aviation security audit in Bangladesh

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh has completed nearly 80 percent of its preparations for two major international aviation security audits by the UK's Department for Transport and the International Civil Aviation Organisation

UK to conduct aviation security audit in Bangladesh
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The United Kingdom's (UK) Department for Transport (DfT) will conduct an aviation security audit in Bangladesh from July 14 to 17, focusing on security arrangements for passengers and cargo bound for the UK from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) and Osmani International Airport.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has completed nearly 80 percent of its preparations for two major international aviation security audits by the UK's Department for Transport (DfT) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), according to a CAAB press release.

The audits, which will assess Bangladesh's compliance with international aviation security standards, are considered crucial to enhancing the country's standing in the global aviation sector.

In the latest DfT assessment, Bangladesh achieved 100 percent compliance in cargo security and 93–94 percent compliance in passenger security, the press release added.

Bangladesh scored 68.55 percent in ICAO's 2018 security audit, surpassing the then international benchmark of 65 percent. The authority is targeting a score of more than 75 percent in this year's audit, which is scheduled to be held from October 26 to November 6. During the audit, ICAO experts will assess aviation security management and implementation at CAAB headquarters, Shahjalal and Osmani airports.

The release said the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism is closely supervising the preparations, with Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita and State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat regularly reviewing progress and providing the necessary directives.

Coordination meetings are also being held regularly to assess preparedness and address outstanding issues, it added.

CAAB officials expressed confidence that the ongoing preparations, combined with the installation of modern security equipment and close high-level monitoring, would help Bangladesh achieve improved results in both audits, further enhancing the international reputation of the country's airports and strengthening its position in the global aviation security framework.