Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport scored 94 percent and Osmani International Airport 98 percent in the latest UK Department for Transport (DfT) security audit, while Bangladesh achieved 100 percent compliance in additional cargo security measures.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) said the results reflected continued improvement in the country’s aviation security system.

In the 2025 assessment, Shahjalal International Airport had scored 93 percent and Osmani International Airport 94 percent.

The latest results therefore marked an increase of one percentage point for Shahjalal and four percentage points for Osmani within a year.

The DfT audit reviewed various aspects of aviation security at the two airports, including passenger, cargo and mail security, with particular focus on UK-bound traffic.

CAAB said Bangladesh also achieved full compliance in the Additional Measures Assessment relating to cargo security, reflecting effective implementation of prescribed security requirements.

The authority said the findings demonstrated progress in strengthening aviation security and could help bolster confidence among passengers, airlines, businesses, importers, exporters and other domestic and international stakeholders.

The audit results are also significant as Bangladesh has remained under the European Union’s High Risk Cargo and Mail (HRCM) regime since 2017.

Under the regime, Europe-bound cargo and mail from Bangladesh are subject to additional security requirements, resulting in extra processing time and costs.

Bangladesh has already raised the issue of withdrawal of the HRCM-related restrictions with the relevant authorities.

CAAB said the positive DfT findings and high level of cargo-security compliance could provide supporting evidence of improvements in Bangladesh’s security arrangements.

However, withdrawal of HRCM status would depend on the relevant authorities’ own assessment and formal procedures, it added.

The DfT findings are also expected to support preparations for the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Universal Security Audit Programme–Continuous Monitoring Approach (ICAO USAP-CMA) audit, scheduled from October 26 to November 6, 2026.

The upcoming ICAO audit is expected to assess aviation security management and implementation at CAAB headquarters, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Osmani International Airport.

CAAB Member (Security) Air Commodore Md Asif Iqbal said coordinated efforts by CAAB’s Aviation Security Division, relevant airport authorities and other stakeholders played an important role in achieving the results.

He also credited the overall supervision of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, guidance of the CAAB chairman and cooperation among different CAAB departments for strengthening audit preparations and implementation of required security measures.