FE REPORT
Bogura is set to become a major aviation hub under a government plan to build an international-standard airport featuring a 10,500-foot runway capable of accommodating both domestic and international aircraft, officials say.
The announcement came on Thursday during a visit to Bogura Airport by State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, who said the proposed expansion would also include cargo-handling facilities aimed at boosting agricultural exports, industrial shipments, and regional trade across northern Bangladesh.
Speaking to reporters during the inspection, he said the government was preparing plans to transform the airport into a modern aviation facility with the capacity to handle international operations.
"The runway will be extended to 10,500 feet so that both domestic and international aircraft can land here," he said.
"Cargo facilities will also be established, which will play a significant role in the export of agricultural and industrial products from the northern region."
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said the visit was conducted under the instructions of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as part of a broader strategy to unlock the economic potential of the country's north.
"We want to transform Bogura into one of the country's leading aviation hubs by harnessing the region's possibilities," she said.
"The journey of this large-scale initiative by the ministry is beginning from Bogura," she added.
The government is also considering establishing a pilot training academy alongside cargo facilities as part of the airport expansion project, in what officials describe as an effort to open a new chapter in transport, trade, and aviation development in northern Bangladesh.
Among those present during the visit were Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Fahmida Akhtar, and other senior officials from the ministry and the airport authorities.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com
