Work in progress for Saidpur Int'l Airport

Saidpur Airport in the district will be upgraded soon to an international one.

As part of the upgradating process, civil aviation authorities have already completed the feasibility study and land acquisition procedure is also in progress.

Three other international airports in the country are Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet.

Saidpur Airport Manager Shahin Ahmed said the authorities concerned started the upgradating work after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the announcement in parliament to upgrade the airport into an international one last year.

Following the prime minister's announcement, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) appointed a North Korean farm last year that conducted massive studies on different aspects and provided necessary suggestions in this regard.

Besides appointing the foreign company, the CAAB conducted separate surveys with relevant experts and prepared a coordinated report, Shahin added.

Accordingly, an additional 912 acres of land covering areas in Nilphamari and Dinajpur is needed to construct a 12,000 feet approach runway in place of the existing 6,000 feet runway for operating large and modern aircraft from home and abroad, Shahin said.

The other major works, alongside the land acquisition, are modernising the terminal structure, setting up night landing system and construction of a giant boundary wall.

Meanwhile, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Naim Hassan and Member (Operations and Planning) Air Commodore M Mostafizur Rahman visited the airport site on March 31.

Former president of Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce and Industries Shafiqul Alam Dablu Shah said upgrading the airport into an international airport will boost the country's trade and tourism with India, Bhutan, Nepal and even China for its convenient location.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Bhutanese government led by its civil aviation and tourism minister visited the Saidpur Airport site in 2012.

Nilphamari Deputy Commissioner Khaled Rahim said land acquisition process for converting the Saidpur Airport as an international one is already in progress.