Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witnesses a presentation of a project, 'Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Pedestrian Underpass', at Ganabhaban on Wednesday. — PID Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that Bangladesh will be the aviation gateway and bridge between the East and the West in the future, reports UNB.
She said this while witnessing a presentation on the progress of the 'Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Third Terminal Expansion' project' at her official residence GanaBhaban, Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher told reporters.
The premier highlighted the features of building the third terminal at the airport, expanding the runway and improving the Cox's Bazar International Airport to take the country towards prosperity by utilising the geographical advantages of Bangladesh,
Pointing out that using Cox's Bazar Airport for refuelling will reduce the distance of international routes, she said, adding Cox's Bazar Airport is the most important.
"Cox's Bazar will become a gateway just as everyone now uses Dubai as a gateway for aircraft refuelling,"she said.
She said that Cox's Bazar will be within a short distance for refuelling on international routes and airlines won't to go far. They can avail this facility directly from Cox's Bazar, she added.
She mentioned that Cox's Bazar will increase the country's income from refuelling international flights.
The PM said that everything at the third terminal of the HSIA will be managed digitally.
"People will be able to get international quality services quickly and easily. Therefore, the operation and maintenance of the airport will be given to a foreign company," she said.
Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman presented the updated information of the 'Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's third terminal expansion' project before the PM.
He said that all necessary preparations will be completed for the inauguration of the third terminal next October.
Stating that 61 per cent of the third terminal work has been completed so far, he said that 93 per cent of the total project work will be completed by October next year. There will be some minor work left.
He mentioned that the cost of the project may increase from Tk 220.00 billion to Tk 270.00 billion due to the increase in the value of the dollar and the price of various products. The Civil Aviation chairman said that with cost escalation, various facilities and efficiency will increase.
The installation of radar by Thales, a French radar manufacturer, was also discussed.
PM Hasina asked the authorities to finish the installation of the radar quickly. She said that with the installation of new radar, the income in the aviation sector will increase and good returns will come from it.
"Because then it will be easy to track the flights passing over Bangladesh airspace and it will be easy to get various types of fees from them," she said.
According to civil aviation sources, the project to install the new radar was taken up in October 2021 with the timeframe to complete it by June 2024.
But the third terminal and radar two will be inaugurated at the same time, the sources said,
Sources also said that the radar capacity will extend to the sea limits available from India and Myanmar. Air communication system will be more modern and secure.
At rhe function Hasina said the planned construction of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Pedestrian Underpass is going to be a landmark achievement of the country.
"It will reduce traffic jam and accidents," she said while witnessing the presentation on the project.
The 1070-metre pedestrian underpass will connect the first, second and third terminals of the airport, BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) and metro rail station and Ashkona Haji Camp.
Hasina expressed her satisfaction with the design and overall aspects of the project. After seeing the presentation of the project, the prime minister said that it is very beautiful and everything she wanted is there
She said that people will be able to get off the train and get on the plane, the environment will also be better.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali, Prime Minister's Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah, PMO secretary Mohammad Salahuddin and Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, among others, were present.
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