Govt moves to build airport near Kuakata beach
GULAM RABBANI | Saturday, 17 February 2024
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has begun initial work on building a new airport at Kuakata, one of the country's most scenic tourist destinations, to improve access for visitors and facilitate commercial activities around the Payra Seaport.
A five-member team from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and the Civil Aviation Authority visited Kuakata on Friday to begin a preliminary survey of the site.
Md Jahirul Islam, director (Administration) of the CAAB, leads the delegation.
He said the proposed airport may need at least 3000 acres of land. A site at Chakamaia union parishad under Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district could be the potential spot.
Apart from land acquisition, building a new airport involves many technical considerations.
About Chakamaia, Mr Islam said, "This area is very close to the sea, so we need to assess tidal conditions, wind direction and other factors. We will submit a report to the ministry after our survey."
Following the initial survey, the ministry will conduct a feasibility study to determine the airport's structure and viability, added the official.
An airport in the region could boost commercial activity around the Payra Seaport and attract more tourists to Kuakata.
This southern district boasts the second-largest beach in the country after Cox's Bazar and draws a huge number of domestic and international tourists each year. Its 18 km-long, 3 km-wide sandy beach offers stunning sunrises and sunsets over the Bay of Bengal.
Apart from the natural beauty, Kuakata offers attractions like the diverse lifestyle of the Rakhine people, a historic well, ancient boats and Buddhist and Hindu temples.
Previously, the 13-14 hour journey from Dhaka to Kuakata included a perilous ferry ride across the Padma River. However, with the opening of the Padma Bridge, the travel time from the capital has been reduced to just five or six hours.
This has been drawing many visitors to travel to Kuakata for refreshments.
"Connectivity is key for tourism and commercial activities," says Shiblul Azam Koreshi, president of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB).
"An airport in Kalapara would greatly benefit both tourism centred on Kuakata and commercial activities around the Payra Seaport."
Koreshi believes an airport could elevate Kuakata's importance as a tourist destination, similar to Cox's Bazar.