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Film Fixer Guide
Drone Filming Permits in Bangladesh: Complete Guide for International Crews (2026)
Drone filming in Bangladesh requires two separate permits: a Ministry of Information filming permit (10 to 21 working days) and a Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) drone permit (2 to 3 additional weeks). Flying without both is illegal and risks equipment confiscation. Libanza Films manages the complete drone permit process for international productions as part of its film fixer service, starting from USD 2,000.
By Azizul Hoque Shiplu
|
July 23, 2026
|
8 min read
Before you read further
Foreign crews who fly drones in Bangladesh without a valid CAAB permit face equipment confiscation, temporary detention and possible expulsion from the country. This applies to all drone sizes including consumer drones under 250g. There is no on-the-spot fine option. The permit must exist before the drone is powered on.
2 Permits
Both MoI + CAAB required
5 to 6 Weeks
Minimum total lead time
5 km Radius
Airport exclusion zone
100%
Libanza permit success rate
1. Why Drone Filming Requires Two Separate Permits
Many international production crews arrive in Bangladesh believing their standard Ministry of Information filming permit covers drone use. It does not. The MoI permit authorises your crew to film inside Bangladesh. The CAAB (Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh) permit separately authorises the flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle in Bangladesh airspace. These are two different government authorities with two different application processes.
The CAAB permit cannot be applied for independently or in advance of the MoI permit. CAAB requires a copy of the approved MoI filming permit as part of its own application. This means the permits must be obtained sequentially, and the total timeline is the sum of both processes.
| Step | Action | Authority | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Submit Ministry of Information filming permit application including drone filming declaration | Ministry of Information, GoB | 10 to 21 working days |
| 2 | MoI permit received. Submit CAAB drone permit application with MoI permit copy, drone specifications and flight plan | Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh | 2 to 3 additional weeks |
| 3 | CAAB permit received. Drone may be cleared through customs and flown at approved locations | Customs + local authority on shoot day | Shoot can proceed |
Total minimum timeline for drone production: 5 to 6 weeks from first application to approved drone-ready shoot date. Productions that contact Libanza Films with less than 5 weeks before their planned shoot cannot be guaranteed CAAB clearance in time for aerial footage.
2. The CAAB Drone Permit Process Step by Step
The CAAB application requires a specific set of documents. Missing any one of them restarts the process. Here is exactly what the CAAB drone permit application requires for an international production crew.
1
Approved MoI filming permit (original)
The original Ministry of Information permit document showing drone filming as an authorised activity within the production. If drone filming was not declared in the original MoI application, a permit amendment is required before the CAAB application can be submitted.
2
Drone specification sheet
Make, model, serial number, weight (maximum take-off weight), wingspan or rotor dimensions, maximum flight altitude, camera payload specification and remote control frequency. CAAB reviews the technical specifications to confirm the drone is not classified as a restricted category in Bangladesh.
3
Intended flight locations with GPS coordinates
CAAB requires the specific geographic coordinates and a description of each location where the drone will be flown. A general location name (Cox's Bazar beach, Sundarbans) is not sufficient. Precise latitude and longitude for each flight site must be submitted. Libanza Films prepares this flight plan document as part of the permit application.
4
Drone operator qualification documents
Proof of operator qualification for the pilot who will fly the drone. If the international crew is bringing their own pilot, their home country drone licence and a copy of relevant training certificates are required. If Libanza Films is providing the drone operator, operator qualification documents are included in the application.
5
Insurance documentation
Third-party liability insurance covering drone operation in Bangladesh. CAAB requires this to be in place at the time of permit issuance. International productions should confirm with their production insurer that their policy extends to drone operations in Bangladesh, or arrange a specific extension for the production period.
3. No-Fly Zones and Restricted Areas
Even with a valid CAAB permit, certain areas in Bangladesh are permanently restricted for drone flight. CAAB will not issue clearance for these zones under any standard production permit. Knowing these exclusions before planning your aerial shots prevents expensive location replanning late in pre-production.
| Zone Type | Specific Locations | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Airport exclusion zones | 5 km radius around Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal, Chittagong Shah Amanat, Sylhet Osmani, Cox's Bazar Airport, and all active airstrips | No fly. No exceptions. |
| Military and cantonment areas | All Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force installations and cantonment zones. 3 km exclusion buffer around perimeters. | No fly. No exceptions. |
| Dhaka city centre | Restricted urban flight zone covering central Dhaka including Motijheel, Gulshan, Banani, Dhanmondi and adjacent areas. CAAB defines the exact boundary. | Restricted. Special clearance only. |
| Rohingya camps (Cox's Bazar) | The Kutupalong and surrounding camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas. Requires RRRC permit plus specific military clearance for aerial. | Restricted. Multi-permit required. |
| Critical infrastructure | Power plants (Rooppur Nuclear Plant exclusion zone is extensive), major bridges (Padma Bridge, Jamuna Bridge), ports, water treatment facilities | No fly without specific clearance. |
| Sundarbans (restricted zones) | Wildlife sanctuary core zones within the Sundarbans. Buffer zones and tourism zones may be permissible with Forest Department clearance. | Zone-dependent. Forest permit required. |
What is typically permissible with a valid CAAB permit: Cox's Bazar beach (outside the airport exclusion zone), rural Bangladesh (paddy fields, rivers, countryside), the Haor wetlands of Sylhet, Chittagong Hill Tracts scenic areas (with CHT permit), Padma river delta landscapes, Sundarbans buffer zones (with Forest Department permit), and most locations outside the exclusion categories above. Libanza Films confirms location permissibility for each site in the pre-production planning stage.
4. Approved Drone Types and Import Rules
Bangladesh does not maintain a published whitelist of approved drone models in the way some other countries do. CAAB reviews each drone specification on a case-by-case basis. However, the following guidance reflects practical experience from Libanza Films' permit applications.
Generally Approvable
- DJI Mavic 3 / Mavic 3 Pro / Mavic 3 Cine
- DJI Air 3 / Air 2S
- DJI Inspire 2 and 3
- DJI Mini 4 Pro (declared weight matters)
- Autel Robotics EVO II series
- Professional cinema drones with documented specs
Likely Rejected or Flagged
- Fixed-wing drones over 2kg MTOW
- FPV racing drones (even for cinema use)
- Any drone classified as a military UAV in the country of origin
- Drones with encrypted or non-standard communication protocols
- Drones modified from factory specification
Importing Your Own Drone into Bangladesh
Foreign crews bringing their own drone into Bangladesh must declare it at customs on arrival as professional filming equipment. Undeclared drones are classified as smuggled goods and are liable to confiscation with no appeal available during the production period.
- Prepare a customs documentation pack listing the drone by make, model, serial number and declared value before departure.
- Carry a copy of your CAAB permit application (not the permit itself — that arrives after customs) to show customs officers the drone is for a permitted production.
- The drone must be re-exported when you leave. Bangladesh customs tracks declared professional equipment on entry and exit.
- Libanza Films prepares the customs documentation pack as part of the drone permit service. The pack is emailed before your departure so you arrive with correct documentation.
5. Drone Filming by Location: What is Possible Where
Cox's Bazar Beach
The beach area away from the airport exclusion zone is one of the most accessible drone filming locations in Bangladesh. The world's longest natural sea beach offers excellent aerial opportunities for documentary and tourism content. The airport exclusion zone (5km from Cox's Bazar Airport) cuts across the northern beach area, so specific GPS coordinates must be confirmed for each planned shot.
Permit requirement: MoI + CAAB. Timeline: 5 to 6 weeks.
Sundarbans
Drone filming in the Sundarbans is possible in the buffer zones and tourism areas but requires an additional Forest Department permit on top of MoI and CAAB clearances. The wildlife sanctuary core zones are closed to drone flights to protect the tiger and wildlife population. The buffer zone aerial footage is exceptional for nature and climate documentary productions.
Permit requirement: MoI + CAAB + Forest Department. Timeline: 8 to 10 weeks total.
Rural Bangladesh and River Delta
Open countryside, paddy fields, river delta landscapes and rural village settings across Bangladesh are among the most straightforward drone filming locations, provided they fall outside the airport and military exclusion zones. The padma river delta, haor wetlands of Sylhet, the tea gardens of Srimangal and the char islands of the Brahmaputra all produce spectacular aerial footage with standard MoI and CAAB permits.
Permit requirement: MoI + CAAB. Timeline: 5 to 6 weeks.
Chittagong Hill Tracts
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban) offer dramatic highland aerial footage. The region requires a separate CHT Area permit from the Ministry of CHT Affairs plus military clearance, which significantly extends the permit timeline. Drone flights near military posts in the CHT are not permissible under any standard permit.
Permit requirement: MoI + CAAB + CHT Area Permit + military clearance. Timeline: 8 to 12 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. All drone filming in Bangladesh by foreign crews requires two permits: a Ministry of Information filming permit (10 to 21 working days) and a CAAB drone permit (2 to 3 additional weeks). Flying without both is illegal and risks equipment confiscation. Even small consumer drones require CAAB approval.
A CAAB drone permit takes 2 to 3 weeks after the Ministry of Information filming permit has been obtained. The CAAB permit cannot be applied for independently. The combined permit process for a drone production takes a minimum of 5 to 6 weeks total from first application.
Drones are banned within 5 kilometres of all airports, within 3 kilometres of military installations, over the Rohingya refugee camps without RRRC and military clearance, over industrial infrastructure and power plants, and within the Dhaka city centre restricted urban flight zone. These bans apply regardless of whether a CAAB permit has been issued.
Yes. Libanza Films manages the complete CAAB drone permit process as part of its film fixer service for international productions, including MoI filming permit, CAAB drone permit, equipment declaration for imported drones, and location-specific clearances. Productions briefed 6 weeks in advance have a 100 percent drone permit delivery record.
Yes, but the drone must be declared at customs on arrival with professional filming documentation. The drone model must be named in the CAAB permit application before arrival. Undeclared drones are liable to confiscation with no appeal available during the production period. Libanza Films prepares the customs documentation pack before your departure.
Drone permit management at Libanza Films is included in the standard film fixer service starting from USD 2,000 for fixer-only services. The government processing fee component for the CAAB permit itself is under USD 100. The cost is the fixer service time for managing the application, documentation, follow-up and location-specific clearances.
Related Guides and Services
- Film Fixer in Bangladesh — Libanza Films Services
- Filming Permits in Bangladesh: Step-by-Step Guide for Foreign Crews
- How to Hire a Film Fixer in Bangladesh: The Complete Guide (2026)
- Cox's Bazar Filming Destination Guide for Foreign Crews
- Filming Safety and Security in Bangladesh
- Film Locations in Bangladesh: Guide for International Productions
- How Much Does It Cost to Film in Bangladesh? (2026 Guide)
- Filming Permits and Visa Guidance Bangladesh
Need Drone Filming Permits for Your Bangladesh Production?
Share your drone model, planned filming locations and shoot dates. Libanza Films handles the complete CAAB and MoI permit process. Contact us at least 5 weeks before your planned aerial shoot.
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