Dhaka, 19 January 2026 – The Bangladesh Center for Air and Space Power Studies (BCASPS) was officially inaugurated, marking a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s strategic and intellectual engagement with air and space power. The inauguration ceremony was graced by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, BBP, OSP, GUP, ndc, psc, who attended as the chief guest and formally launched both the center and its official website, www.bcasps.org . Speaking at the ceremony, the Air Chief expressed strong confidence and optimism about BCASPS as an independent think tank dedicated to research on air and space power. He emphasized that effective control and protection of airspace are fundamental pillars of national sovereignty and stability. In today’s evolving strategic environment, he noted, developing a comprehensive and integrated understanding of both air and space domains is essential to safeguard Bangladesh’s sovereignty, national security, and long-term development interests. The vision of BCASPS was presented at the event as: “To establish itself as a center of excellence that promotes national awareness of air and space power and provides policy-oriented advice in support of Bangladesh’s national interests and the capability development of the Bangladesh Air Force.” The establishment of BCASPS was described as a timely and forward-looking initiative, carrying major significance for national security, the Armed Forces of Bangladesh, and particularly the Bangladesh Air Force. It represents a notable milestone in strengthening Bangladesh’s strategic thinking and intellectual engagement in the fields of air and space power. At the inauguration, a keynote paper titled “Modernizing Airpower in a Changing Indo-Pacific: Strategic Rationale, Technological Shifts, and National Security Implications for Bangladesh” was presented by Professor Shahab Enam Khan, a distinguished researcher from Jahangirnagar University. His presentation highlighted the evolving regional security environment and the importance of technological modernization in strengthening Bangladesh’s airpower capabilities. The ceremony was attended by Principal Staff Officers from Air Headquarters, representatives of relevant ministries, the Vice Chancellor of AAUB, the Chairmen of FSDS and OCPASS, the Director General of BIMRAD, academics and researchers, members of the BCASPS Governing Body, and other senior military and civilian officials. The inauguration of BCASPS is being viewed as a landmark step toward fostering strategic research, policy dialogue, and informed decision-making in air and space power, reinforcing Bangladesh’s preparedness to meet future security challenges.
