Aviation security tightened against emerging threats

Bangladesh has stepped up efforts to assess and counter emerging threats to civil aviation, with security agencies strengthening intelligence sharing and coordination under the Civil Aviation Threat and Risk Assessment Committee (CATRAC).

The second CATRAC meeting was held at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority (CAAB) on Thursday, with particular focus on airport cybersecurity, terrorism, insider threats, IEDs and drone attacks.

Bangladesh’s aviation authorities and security agencies have reviewed existing and emerging threats to the country’s civil aviation sector and called for stronger coordination to ensure timely intelligence sharing and effective risk management.

The second meeting of the Civil Aviation Threat and Risk Assessment Committee (CATRAC) was held at the CAAB headquarters, chaired by CATRAC Chairman and CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq, BSP, GUP, NDC, AFWC, ACSC, PSC.

Representatives from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, CAAB, the Bangladesh Air Force’s Air Intelligence Unit, Armed Police Battalion, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, National Security Intelligence, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence and Bangladesh Police’s Special Branch attended the meeting.

In his welcome address, the CAAB chairman said civil aviation was facing multiple security challenges in the current global context, including terrorism, cyber threats, insider threats, improvised explosive devices and drone attacks.

He stressed the importance of coordinated efforts among the relevant agencies to address those threats.

The chairman said CATRAC was playing an important role in conducting regular security risk assessments in line with ICAO Annex 17.

He said the Civil Aviation Risk Context Statement (CARCS) had already been finalised and procedures for intelligence sharing had been specified.

These measures would also be important for the upcoming ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme – Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA) audit, he said, expressing hope that joint efforts would further strengthen civil aviation security in Bangladesh.

The meeting reviewed progress in implementing decisions taken at the first CATRAC meeting and discussed current and emerging security risks.

Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening airport cybersecurity.

CAAB presented measures it had taken to address risks including phishing, password theft, unauthorised access and the theft of passenger and flight-related information.

The meeting was informed that Cybersecurity had been incorporated into the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) and Aviation Security Training Programme (ATSP), while steps had been taken to issue Civil Aviation Cybersecurity Directives.

A memorandum of understanding has also been completed with the Bangladesh Computer Council’s e-Gov CIRT to conduct cybersecurity audits.

The country’s airports have been declared Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) and CAAB is receiving regular guidance from the National Cybersecurity Agency (NCSA).

The meeting also discussed changing security threats, timely intelligence sharing, risk management and stronger inter-agency coordination.

Intelligence agencies were instructed to prepare a Higher-Risk Designation List (HRDL) to determine the need for aircraft searches.

CAAB Member (Security) Air Commodore Md Asif Iqbal, BSP, BUP, NDC, AFWC, PSC, GD(P), highlighted the importance of threat and risk assessment in the civil aviation security environment.

He said effective risk assessment, proper information sharing and coordinated action by relevant agencies would play an important role in successfully addressing the upcoming ICAO security audit.
In his closing remarks, the CAAB chairman said sincere cooperation and coordinated efforts from all relevant agencies would be essential to properly implement the decisions and recommendations adopted at the meeting.

He expressed optimism that timely information sharing and stronger coordination would help make Bangladesh’s civil aviation security system more effective.

The chairman thanked all members for their active participation and constructive suggestions before concluding the second CATRAC meeting.

The next CATRAC meeting is tentatively scheduled for the first week of February 2027.