No plan to shut down old airport, says PM

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina on Saturday ruled out the possibility of closing down the old airport at Tejgaon in the city saying that it belongs to the Air Force and it must remain under their possession, reports UNB.
"This airport will never be closed down...it belongs to the Air Force and it must remain theirs," she said.
The PM said this while inaugurating the newly constructed VVIP Complex of the Tejgaon airport.
She, however, asked the Air Force to remain alert so that this airport must not be grabbed by others.
Sheikh Hasina assured that no one will be able to take away this airport from the Air Force as long as she is there in power.
The PM asked all to shun the thinking of constructing high-rises beside the first airport of the country.
"I want to warn you many people have their greedy eyes on it, the Air Force should use it...it must not be grabbed by others."
She went on saying, "But when I will be not there in power, many may come to grab this airport, I don't want to see this airport getting ruined as Dhaka city badly needs another airport.... we have another one, why should we destroy it."
Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on the use of the airport and said flights should be operated from there so that all can understand about its use.
The PM firmly mentioned that the airport land will not be allotted from the Air Force to anyone else as long as Awami League remains in power.
In this context, she said the Air Force needs more land as the government is further increasing its operational activities and its size.
Hasina went round different sections of the newly constructed VVIP complex of the airport.