Plan
Drone rules: Bangladesh
Last checked: October 5, 2026
Permit required
You may only fly here with a permit issued by the authorities in advance.
Whether you need a permit depends on the zone: yellow zones require approval, red zones special approval. Older CAAB rules require a permit for every flight; which version the authorities apply today is not clear.
Under the 2020 drone policy you must register a recreational drone if it can fly higher than 100 feet or weighs more than 5 kg; the policy does not name a general exemption below 250 g.
An older CAAB circular (CAC-5) lists third-party insurance as mandatory; whether it still applies alongside the 2020 drone policy is unclear.
Depending on drone weight
- From 5 kg· Registration: RequiredAbove 5 kg registration is always mandatory; import requires prior approval from the Ministry of Defence.
For tourists
Hardly realistic for tourists: registration and permits need a long lead time, and there is no self-service portal for foreigners. Best to clarify in advance via a local agency or leave the drone at home.
Further rules
- The 2020 drone policy divides the country into green, yellow and red zones. In the green zone you may fly no higher than 50 feet (15.24 metres) between 3 and 5 kilometres from airfields, and no higher than 100 feet (30.48 metres) beyond 5 kilometres; yellow zones require approval, red zones special approval.
- Under the policy you must register a recreational drone if it can fly higher than 100 feet or weighs more than 5 kilograms; the policy provides no general exemption for drones under 250 grams. Drones over 5 kilograms may only be imported with the approval of the Ministry of Defence.
- The older CAAB circular CAC-5 requires a special permit for every flight with 45 to 60 days of lead time and liability insurance; the 2020 drone policy does not mention these deadlines or the insurance. Which rules the CAAB applies today is not clear – check before your trip.
- You may only fly at night with special approval. Keep at least 30 metres from crowds; flights over airports, security-sensitive facilities and outdoor crowds are prohibited.
- There is no digital self-service portal for foreign tourists; in practice, registration and permits usually only work with help from local agencies or tour operators. Unregistered drones are confiscated at Dhaka airport.
- Specific fine amounts for violations are not officially stated; available sources speak generally of possible penalties and fines, without the CAAB having published fixed amounts.
Sources
This overview is not legal advice and not an official statement — laws change, and we cannot guarantee that every entry is fully up to date. Before your flight, please also check the official source or the local civil aviation authority.