Dhaka, April 29 -- The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) is making slow progress in implementing the "Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS)" at the country's international airports, despite its critical importance in preventing criminals, human traffickers, and smugglers.

Initiated in 2016, the project remains at the discussion stage.

Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, told the FE that an 11-member negotiation committee headed by an additional secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism is currently reviewing and evaluating proposals submitted by different countries to implement the project.

The committee was formed early this year, added the ...