Following recent cyberattacks at Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin airports, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has issued heightened cybersecurity measures at all international and domestic airports across the country.
Last week, the authority circulated 10 special directives to airport officials as part of this precautionary move.
The directives, signed by CAAB Member (Planning & Operations) Air Commodore Abu Saeed Mehbub Khan, were sent to all airport chiefs and senior civil aviation officials. A CAAB official confirmed the instructions to Dhaka Post on Thursday (October 9).
The notice urges strict adherence to cybersecurity practices, including using strong passwords, avoiding suspicious emails and links, keeping software and antivirus programs updated, refraining from using pirated software or installing personal apps on official devices, and enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA).
In case of any cybersecurity incidents, airport authorities are instructed to immediately inform CAAB’s CAB-CERT team, IT department, and the National Cyber Incident Response Team.
CAAB sources said that on September 15, a meeting was held at the headquarters to discuss cyberattack risks and preventive measures. It was noted that operations had been halted at some London airports following attacks, prompting proactive measures in Bangladesh.
The meeting also revealed that the CAAB website had recently been targeted by cyberattacks, and the National Cybersecurity Agency recommended an urgent assessment of CAAB’s cyber risks. The authority is now considering the appointment of an experienced firm to strengthen its cybersecurity defenses.
