The government has decided in principle to restructure the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) by dividing it into two separate entities — one as a regulator and the other as an operator.
CAAB was formally informed of the decision, according to an official letter issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism on Wednesday.
Currently, CAAB performs a dual role. As a regulator, it supervises aviation safety and security, while as an operator, it provides air navigation services and manages airports.
This dual responsibility has long raised concerns about conflicts of interest, as regulatory decisions often overlap with operational functions.
The necessity of splitting these entities was highlighted in audits conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Furthermore, the move was recommended in a report by a committee led by the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which investigated a fire at the import cargo complex of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on 18 October 2025.
To implement this decision, the government will immediately initiate the drafting and amendment of necessary laws and regulations to form a separate operator entity responsible for airport management and air navigation services.
This structural reform is expected to ensure compliance with international obligations and significantly improve the quality of civil aviation services in Bangladesh.
