Two officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) have been dismissed for failing to return to work after taking leave and leaving the country. The matter was confirmed on Tuesday morning by CAAB’s public relations officer, Kawsar Mahmud. The dismissed officials are Mohammad Abu Sayeed, Director of Flight Standards and Regulations (Airworthiness and Engineering), and Md. Arif-ur-Rahman, Assistant Director (CNS). Abu Sayeed was temporarily suspended on May 3 and asked to explain within seven days why he should not be permanently dismissed, while Arif-ur-Rahman was permanently dismissed on April 25.

According to CAAB sources, Abu Sayeed had applied to join a job in Malaysia in July of the previous year and went on ten days of leave from August 4 to 13, 2025, but did not return afterward. Despite multiple attempts to contact him through official and personal channels, his whereabouts remained unknown. His absence exceeding 60 days without permission was treated as misconduct under CAAB’s 2021 employment regulations, leading to a departmental case and subsequent dismissal decision. Arif-ur-Rahman, who went to the United States on 15 days of leave, also failed to return for about 20 months and was dismissed for prolonged absence and misconduct.