The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has drafted the ‘CAAB Property Lease Regulations 2026’ to restructure the management of immovable assets under the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB). The draft was sent to CAAB for feedback within three working days, a timeline the authority called unrealistic and hasty. CAAB formally objected to the ministry, citing the regulation’s complexity and its implications for airport operations, passenger services, national security, and international obligations. The ministry also published the draft on its website seeking public opinion.

In a letter signed by CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq, the authority warned that several clauses could conflict with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, potentially affecting Bangladesh’s international audits. CAAB argued that the draft may interfere with its legal jurisdiction under the Civil Aviation Authority Act 2017 and risk administrative and operational complications. The agency also opposed forming lease and monitoring committees lacking technical expertise and warned against open tenders for airside areas.

Separately, Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Rajin Ahmed requested extending the public feedback period by at least three weeks, noting over 500 submissions and emphasizing that public consultation is a mandatory procedural requirement under government rules.