Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq has officially taken charge as the new chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB). He assumed office on Thursday, succeeding outgoing chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman.
The handover ceremony took place in the presence of senior officials from various departments of CAAB.
According to CAAB officials, Air Vice Marshal Siddiq joined the Bangladesh Air Force Academy on 8 January 1990 and was commissioned into the General Duties (Pilot) Branch on 13 October 1992 from the Royal Malaysian Air Force. Over the course of a distinguished career, he held several key command and staff positions within the Bangladesh Air Force.
Most recently, he served as the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of BAF Base Bir Uttam AK Khandakar. A skilled fighter pilot with over 2,900 flying hours, he is also a Category A flying instructor with a well-established reputation.
Throughout his career, Air Vice Marshal Siddiq has operated various types of aircraft and undergone numerous specialized training programs both at home and abroad. These include the Development Para Jump Course in Malaysia, Flying Instructor Course in India, and the High-G Course in Turkey.
He holds graduate degrees from the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Mirpur and the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, USA. He has also completed the Armed Forces War Course from the National Defence College (NDC) in Bangladesh and the NDC course from India.
In his professional tenure, he commanded No. 11, 25, and 35 Squadrons of the Air Force and also served as officer commanding of the Flying Wings at BAF Base Zahurul Haque and BAF Base Bir Uttam AK Khandakar. At the Air Headquarters, he held posts including director of Recruitment and director of Air Operations. He also served as the commandant of the Bangladesh Air Force Academy.
In addition to operational roles, he contributed significantly to education and training within the armed forces. He was a directing staff in the Air Wing of the Defence Services Command and Staff College and in the Armed Forces War Course at the National Defence College.
Air Vice Marshal Siddiq also served with distinction in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he commanded the Bangladesh Aviation Transport Unit. For his courage and outstanding service, he was awarded the BSP and GUP medals.
The appointment was officially announced by Muhammad Kawsar Mahmud, assistant director (Public Relations) of CAAB.