State-of-the-art radar system to be installed at Dhaka airport

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab) today signed an agreement with French radar maker Thales LAS to install state-of-the-art radar with CNS-ATM (Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management)at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony at a hotel in the capital.

Caab Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman and the chairman of Thales LAS signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

State Minister for Civil Aviation Md Mahbub Ali, Secretary to the Ministry Md Mokammel Hossain and French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean Marin were present at the ceremony.

Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, Mahbub Ali said with the installation of this new state-of-the-art radar, the entire airspace of the country will come under surveillance.

"As a result, it will be possible to identify all foreign aircraft travelling on international routes using the skies of Bangladesh and it would be possible to realise flying-over charges from foreign aircraft," he also said.

The junior minister said the installation of these new and sophisticated radar and ATC towers would make the country's airspace more secure and increase revenue from the aviation sector.

"Today we are witnessing a major step forward in the development of the aviation sector," he added.

"The country's air navigation will be timely and of international standard."

The project, approved by the Caab to modernise communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management, was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement in June.