Dhaka:An International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit of Bangladesh's aviation security system commenced today and will continue until November 6. This audit aims to evaluate the country's security oversight framework against international standards.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the audit is being conducted under ICAO's Universal Security Audit Programme-Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA), as stated in a press release by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
A national briefing marking the audit's initiation was held at CAAB headquarters in Kurmitola. The session was chaired by CAAB Member (Security) Air Commodore Md Asif Iqbal. During the briefing, Bangladesh's National Coordinator Mohammad Alamgir provided an overview of the country's aviation security oversight system to the ICAO audit team. ICAO Audit Team Leader Callum Vine subsequently delivered the national briefing.
The event saw participation from audit team members and representatives of agencies and organisations involved in aviation security. Following the briefing, the ICAO team met with CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq, who stated that the audit is a significant opportunity to assess the national aviation security oversight system, acknowledge achievements, and identify areas for improvement. The chairman also expressed hope that the audit's observations and recommendations would strengthen Bangladesh's aviation security system.
CAAB has committed to devising a corrective action plan based on the audit findings and implementing it effectively within the specified timeframe. During the briefing, Air Commodore Asif Iqbal called for full cooperation from all concerned agencies and organisations to facilitate the audit process. He highlighted the importance of timely submission of accurate documents, availability of relevant officials for interviews, and access for auditors to designated airports and facilities. Additionally, he stressed the need for close coordination with the national coordinator to ensure the audit proceeds smoothly.