The government will undertake an integrated work plan to ensure the security of the country's airports, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon has said.
The minister made the statement while briefing journalists, after visiting US Homeland Security officials met him at the secretariat in the capital on Thursday. Alan Bersin, assistant secretary of Homeland Security, led the team.
Menon said Bangladesh would be able to meet safety standards as the government has taken many initiatives according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directives.
Meeting sources said the FAA team will soon audit the Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh (CAAB) and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
After getting their assessment results, Bangladesh aviation safety will be elevated to category 1.
In 1997, FAA downgraded Bangladesh's aviation safety to category 2 as it could not meet international safety standards.
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) blacklisted Bangladesh in 2009. Later, Bangladesh got out of this list on abiding their directives.
Bangladesh is now one of 16 countries rated as Category 2, out of a total of 88 that have been assessed under IASA.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officer CJ Collins, Deputy Mission chief David Meale, Transportation Security Administration Rachel McGlynn, Civil Aviation Secretary Golam Faruq, Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh Chairman Air Vice Marshal Ehsanul Gani Chowdhury, Foreign ministry DG (US) Abida Sultana were present at the meeting.