No drone-flying without permission until gazette notification: Aviation ministry

We are moving ever closer to the much anticipated gazette from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism regarding the new National Drone Policy for Bangladesh.

Below is the online article published online on the 16th of September 2020 by

The Daily Star's website Star Online Report.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism today said that no individual or organization will be able to fly any drone without permission right now, as the government is yet to publish gazette on "Drone Registration and Flying Policy-2020."

The ministry today at a press release said that the cabinet on September 14 approved the "Drone Registration and Flying Policy-2020" for coordination and control of drone flying activities. Different media has published news about the policy approved by the cabinet -- there is room for confusion as there are some factual errors in the published news, the ministry said in the release.

In this backdrop, the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry today said "drone registration and flying policy 2020" has been approved by the Cabinet, but it has not been published in the form of a gazette notification yet.

"No person/organization can register and fly a drone under this policy until the gazette is published and before the concerned ministry, department or agency taker preparations in this regard," the ministry said. The information given in some newspapers about the flying of "Ka" class drone at a height of 500 feet is incorrect, the ministry statement added.

According to the policy, 'Ka' class drones are drones used for entertainment. This type of drone will not be able to fly within three kilometers of the airport/KPI (Key Point Installations). However, this type of drone can fly up to 3-5 km at a height of 50 feet and weight less than 5 kg. Drones flying above 100 feet and weighing more than 5 kg cannot fly outside the airport/KPI within 5 km without registration and permission, the policy reads.

If it is capable of flying at altitudes of more than 50 to 100 feet and the weight of the drone is more than 5 kg, it will be necessary to register and obtain permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh for flying any type of drone except for "Gha" type.

The ministry has requested concerned persons or organizations to contact to the respective section of the ministry for further information.

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