The new system is also contributing to a significant increase in revenue from overflight charges. According to data from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and the airport authorities, the government earned more than Tk 805 crore in overflight fees during the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Of the total, more than Tk 338 crore was collected during the first six months from July to December. After the new ATC and radar system became fully operational, revenue from overflight charges between January and June rose to around Tk 416 crore.
The figures indicate that the government has been collecting roughly Tk 70-80 crore a month in overflight charges during the period.
Aviation sector stakeholders said Bangladesh had long faced technological limitations in airspace surveillance, particularly over the Bay of Bengal. They said the lack of modern radar and surveillance infrastructure had made it difficult to monitor aircraft routes comprehensively and ensure accurate collection of applicable charges.
The new Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) systems have significantly changed the situation, according to officials and industry stakeholders.
The modern ATC tower and radar system were formally inaugurated in April this year after the completion of the necessary infrastructure and technological work.
The project, implemented under a government-to-government arrangement with French aviation and defence technology company Thales, involved an investment of around Tk 942 crore. The project was financed by CAAB.
Aviation experts said Bangladesh had relied for decades on relatively limited and largely analogue radar capabilities, which restricted its ability to monitor aircraft operating through its airspace.
They said the limitations could make comprehensive route monitoring difficult and potentially result in revenue losses when aircraft used Bangladesh’s airspace without the relevant charges being fully accounted for.
With the new surveillance infrastructure, aircraft flying through Bangladesh’s airspace can now be tracked more effectively, allowing authorities to monitor air traffic and strengthen the collection of applicable overflight fees.
The development is particularly significant given Bangladesh’s geographical position along major international aviation routes.
Industry analysts believe improved airspace surveillance and modern air traffic management could strengthen both aviation safety and revenue generation, potentially making overflight charges a more important and sustainable source of income for the country.
The upgraded ATC and radar infrastructure is also expected to enhance Bangladesh’s capacity to manage increasing air traffic while reducing technological dependence in airspace surveillance.
