The 32nd Steering Committee Meeting of COSCAP-SA was held in New Delhi from April 22 to 24. Photo: CAAB

DHAKA, April 25, 2025 (BSS) - The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has been elected Chair of the Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Programme - South Asia (COSCAP-SA), a key organization in South Asia's civil aviation sector, for the year 2026.

CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan assumed the chairmanship on behalf of Bangladesh during the 32nd Steering Committee Meeting of COSCAP-SA, held from April 22 to 24 in New Delhi, said a press release here today.

The Steering Committee, COSCAP-SA's highest policy-making body, includes Directors General or Chairpersons from the Civil Aviation Authorities of South Asian member states.

Bhuiyan led a five-member Bangladesh delegation to the three-day meeting.

The committee reviewed the activities over the past year, approved the 2025-2026 work plan, and presented financial reports.

Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sagara Kotakadeniya, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, chaired the session as the outgoing Chair.

High-level representatives attended the meeting, including Tao Ma, Regional Director for the Asia and Pacific Region of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and delegates from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Boeing, Airbus, and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Boeing presented on "Flight Data Monitoring," and the ICAO Asia-Pacific office shared insights on collaborative safety efforts.

Member states were encouraged to actively participate in upcoming seminars, workshops and training programmes.

During the event, the Bangladesh delegation highlighted key infrastructural advancements in the country's aviation sector, such as the construction of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal international airport in Dhaka , the expansion of Cox's Bazar Airport, the modernization of Saidpur Airport, and the installation of new air traffic control (ATC) towers and radar systems.

ICAO highly praised these developments, noting that they would enhance safety and boost air traffic management capacity in Bangladesh.

The meeting also announced that Bangladesh's Civil Aviation Academy has achieved "Gold Membership" under the ICAO's TRAINAIR PLUS Programme- marking a major step in international aviation training standards.

Additionally, ICAO approved new training programmes to build a stronger, more skilled aviation workforce.