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Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat
After a lengthy interval of 42 years, the government has taken the initiative to replace the dated Civil Aviation Rules, 1984 by formulating the comprehensive Civil Aviation Rules, 2026. The incoming regulatory framework will be designed specifically to foster a business-friendly and investment-conducive environment, alongside upgrading the overall quality of passenger services and reinforcing safety and security protocols across the civil aviation landscape, according to Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat. The minister made these remarks while presiding over a high-level meeting convened to finalize the draft of the new regulations at the ministry's conference room on Tuesday.
Presiding over the consultative discussion, Rashiduzzaman Millat stated that after more than four decades, stakeholders had gathered to replace the 1984 framework with the Civil Aviation Rules, 2026. He noted that the current government is actively pursuing multi-faceted measures to drive investment into the nation's aviation industry, underscoring that the new guidelines must be thoroughly business-friendly to facilitate sectoral expansion. Addressing airline representatives present at the session, the minister termed them the primary stakeholders of the industry, stressing that their spontaneous engagement is vital in formulating policies that simplify commercial investment and operational processes.
The minister further noted that necessary provisions will be incorporated into the draft to safeguard flight safety and elevate service standards for air passengers. Taking into account the operational requirements of private air carriers, targeted amendments will be introduced to streamline aircraft maintenance mechanisms. Millat explained that administrative and procedural bottlenecks associated with the maintenance, servicing, and complex component overhaul of aircraft will be resolved under the revised code.
To secure international aircraft financing and facilitate aircraft leasing rights in compliance with the Cape Town Convention, the ministry plans to integrate provisions for Irrevocable De-Registration and Export Request Authorization (IDERA) into the new regulatory architecture. Touching on airport physical infrastructure and safety, the minister highlighted mandatory fire safety inspections and mock drills to be conducted every three months across all domestic air terminals. He revealed strategic plans to establish an international-standard Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) unit inside Bangladesh to service aircraft belonging to both domestic and foreign operators, expressing optimism that strong public-private collaboration will achieve the government's broader ambition of transforming Bangladesh into a regional aviation hub. He added that procedural ease would also be extended to private sector initiatives aimed at building and expanding civil airports.
During the discussion, US-Bangla Airlines Managing Director Md. Abdullah Al Mamun presented various proposals and regulatory perspectives on behalf of private airlines, leading to detailed deliberations over the proposed clauses of the new draft. The meeting was attended by Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Fahmida Akhter, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mostafa Mahmud Siddique, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director Kaiser Sohail Ahmed, and Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Chairman Md. Samimuzzaman, alongside senior public and private sector representatives.
