Dhaka airport to get anti-drone system: Minister

The government will install an anti-drone system at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to strengthen security and prevent unauthorised drone flights in the airport area, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said on Monday.

He made the remarks while observing the Airport Emergency Exercise (Fire)-2026 at the airport.

The minister said unauthorised drone operations posed a security risk to airport operations and stressed the need to strengthen security measures.

He also called for adequate stocks of security equipment and scanners at the airport to ensure effective responses to potential threats.

“Ensuring airport security is the top priority of the government,” Millat said, stressing the importance of fire safety and emergency response capabilities in establishing a modern and safe aviation hub.

The minister also highlighted the importance of the upcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit and directed the authorities to ensure compliance with potential observations.

He said security protocols must be followed equally for everyone, including VIPs and CIP passengers.

The minister congratulated the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and all participating agencies for successfully conducting the emergency exercise.

The full-scale exercise was designed to practise firefighting, passenger rescue and evacuation following a simulated aircraft accident, while also assessing the effectiveness of emergency equipment and coordination among different agencies.

In the simulated scenario, a passenger aircraft carrying 98 passengers and five crew members from Bangkok reported an engine fire shortly before landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The aircraft then veered off the runway during an emergency landing and caught fire. Firefighters, rescue teams, law enforcement agencies, medical service providers and other relevant agencies jointly conducted firefighting, rescue, first aid and evacuation operations.

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The exercise was conducted in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines and the National Civil Aviation Security Programme.

CAAB Chairman Air Vice-Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq said regular training, realistic exercises and effective coordination among relevant agencies were essential to ensuring safe air travel.

He said such exercises helped assess the professional skills of personnel, the effectiveness of emergency equipment and the capacity for a coordinated response.