Govt drafts new aviation rulebook ahead of ICAO audit

Dhaka: The government has begun the process of replacing Bangladesh's four-decade-old civil aviation regulations with a new set of rules aimed at aligning the country's aviation sector with evolving global standards and emerging technologies.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has released the draft Civil Aviation Rules, 2026 for public consultation. Once approved, the new regulations will replace the Civil Aviation Rules of 1984 and be implemented under the Civil Aviation Act, 2017.

The draft introduces a regulatory framework for the commercial and non-commercial operation of drones in Bangladeshi airspace. It also proposes making noise certification mandatory for Bangladesh-registered aircraft operating on international routes and requires airlines to prepare International Aviation Carbon Emission Reduction Plans.

The proposed rules would also expand the powers of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), enabling it to introduce stronger measures to protect aviation-related information technology systems and communication networks from unlawful interference.

Reports have cited senior ministry official saying stakeholders have been given 21 days to submit feedback, after which the draft will be revised before final approval.

The government aims to finalize the new rules within the next two months, ahead of an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit scheduled for October.

However, parts of the aviation industry have raised concerns over the draft. Industry sources said, some provisions appear to be inconsistent with ICAO standards and should be reviewed before implementation, as the country prepares for billions of dollars in new aircraft investments over the next two years.