Photo : Collected

DHAKA, Jan 7, 2026 (BSS) - A full-scale security drill titled Airport Security Exercise 2026 was conducted at Cox’s Bazar Airport today to test emergency preparedness and strengthen coordination among aviation security stakeholders.

In line with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP), the exercise aimed to assess preparedness against potential threats such as hijacking and bomb attacks and to enhance coordination among concerned agencies.  

Under ICAO guidelines, every airport is required to conduct an airport security exercise at least once every two years, said a press release here issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB). 

Participants in the exercise included the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Army, RAB, Cox’s Bazar district police, APBn, Ansar, medical teams from the Civil Surgeon’s Office and General Hospital, and Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence.

CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq attended the programme as the chief guest and observed the drill.

In his address, the chairman thanked all stakeholders for their participation, saying such exercises help identify vulnerabilities and enhance inter-agency coordination to ensure international standards in passenger safety and services.

He said the successful exercise demonstrated collective efforts and responsibility, expressing hope that it would enable swift and effective responses to any unforeseen situation.

Recalling the October 18, 2025 fire incident at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s cargo village, the CAAB chairman said coordinated efforts by all agencies had helped restore airport operations by 9pm on the same day.

He expressed optimism that such exercises would play a vital role in preparing for the upcoming ICAO security audit and informed that work on extending Cox’s Bazar Airport runway to 10,700 feet and constructing a new international terminal is progressing rapidly.

CAAB Member (Operations and Planning) Air Commodore Abu Sayeed Mehboob Khan and CAAB Member (Security) Air Commodore Md Asif Iqbal were also present.