From Trishal to Faridpur

The government plans to shift the proposed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib International Airport to greater Faridpur district from Trishal in Mymensingh.
Against the backdrop of divided opinions among the ruling Awami League rank and file over construction of the airport at Trishal, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave go-ahead with the plan.
The government policymakers, who are favouring its construction either in Madaripur or Shariatpur districts, gave reasons that Faridpur is the birthplace of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur, giving the Mongla seaport importance, according to highly placed government sources.
Primarily they preferred Rajoir in Madaripur, sources added.
The influential legislators approached Hasina over the last couple of months and convinced her in this regard. The premier gave them go-ahead signal and entitled one of her close aides to look into the matter.
“It can be said the proposed airport will be built in greater Faridpur district as the prime minister has given her consent giving the Mongla seaport importance,” a top government official told The Daily Star yesterday.
Concerned technical committee is evaluating the cost and benefit of the proposed airport in the greater Faridpur district. A feasibility study is under process, he added.
The government has drawn up a plan to construct the first phase of the proposed Tk 50,000 crore airport in next five years under build-own-operate-transfer basis.
As part of the plan, Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh conducted a feasibility study over the last few months where they identified three possible sites--two are in Mymensingh and one is in Tangail--for the airport.
Even an inter-ministerial meeting at the civil aviation and tourism ministry preferred the site at Trishal in Mymensingh.
But a section of ruling party stalwarts and some policymakers of the government opposed the idea and lobbied to shift the airport to greater Faridpur area.
Talking to The Daily Star, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Shafique Alam Mehdi said earlier three places were selected primarily for the airport but none was finalised.
The project partner under the PPP to build the airport will visit few more places after conducting a detail survey, he said.
After the survey, the development partner would place its recommendations regarding selection of the place to the government. Finally, the government will select the place.
According to the primary plan the airport will be established on about 6,000 acres of land with three 9,000 feet runways and all other modern facilities like Dubai or Singapore Airports.
An elevated expressway and a high-speed railway line have been planned under the project to link the airport with Dhaka.