Dhaka's aviation crisis: Safety risks mount as infrastructure and policy lag behind

A new international airport outside Dhaka should have been built years ago — but it wasn't. Likewise, the Bangladesh Air Force should by now have had a fully operational fighter base located away from densely populated civilian areas. That too remains unfulfilled.

The consequences of these oversights are now becoming increasingly serious — and potentially catastrophic.

In a capital city home to over 20 million people, there is only a single active runway — right in the heart of Dhaka. Every day, an estimated 300 to 400 commercial flights land and take off on this single strip of tarmac at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).

Alongside this intense civilian load, military jets operate regularly, as do around a hundred private helicopters.

Despite this enormous traffic, HSIA still lacks a modern approach radar system and a comprehensive air traffic management (ATM) framework. Pilots, who must navigate these conditions daily, understand the true extent of the risk — something the general public may not realize until tragedy strikes.

Statistically, around 80% of all aviation accidents occur during take-off and landing — the exact phases where aircraft fly low over urban areas. In Dhaka, these flight paths cut directly over dense residential zones. A single aviation mishap could result in the loss of hundreds, potentially thousands, of lives.

The risks are multiplied when it comes to operating fast-moving military fighter aircraft in the same congested airspace. Fighter jets fly in tight formations, often during training, and require ideal weather conditions. They also have limited endurance in the air, making delays or rerouting difficult.

To accommodate these flights, civilian aircraft operations are frequently suspended — sometimes for 30 minutes to an hour—causing delays, diversions, and significant commercial losses for airlines.

There is a compelling safety and efficiency case for relocating fighter operations out of Dhaka. Such a move would dramatically reduce risk to city residents and improve the reliability and scheduling of commercial flights. Yet no such steps have been taken.

Civil aviation: a system run by the wrong hands

Compounding the problem is an institutional issue at the heart of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).

The organisation, which should be managed by experienced aviation professionals, is instead led predominantly by Air Force officers on temporary deputation — typically for only two to three years. Many of them lack the necessary background in airline operations, international regulatory standards, or civil aviation policy.

As a result, CAAB continues to function more like an Air Force squadron than a modern aviation regulator. The consequences are clear: inadequate infrastructure, poor regulatory oversight, and minimal long-term planning.

Most concerning is the state of Bangladesh's airport instrumentation systems. None of the country's international airports currently have Category III Instrument Landing System (ILS) capabilities — a vital aid for pilots during low visibility conditions. Even Category II ILS, suitable for moderate fog, has not been fully implemented at HSIA's Runway 32, despite it being essential for a city with frequent poor visibility during monsoon and winter seasons. High-intensity approach lighting systems, another international standard, are also absent.

The situation at domestic airports is even worse. None have ILS capability at all, forcing pilots to rely on outdated navigation methods in challenging conditions. Chittagong's airport ILS system has remained unserviceable for over a year and a half, with no signs of resolution.

A wake-up call

The recent fatal milestone accident should serve as a wake-up call for the aviation authorities. Public safety, aviation security, and operational efficiency are all at unacceptable risk. A complete overhaul of aviation planning and regulation is long overdue.

While a permanent fix will require careful planning, inter-agency coordination, and significant investment, temporary yet impactful measures can and must be taken immediately. Relocating fighter squadrons out of Dhaka, investing in modern radar and ILS systems, and empowering CAAB with qualified aviation professionals are all achievable first steps.

The skies over Dhaka are overcrowded, under-regulated, and increasingly dangerous. For the sake of passengers, pilots, and millions of residents, change can no longer wait.