Another Padma char under consideration

A Google Earth image shows the old site, Char Janajat, and the new site, Char Bilashpur, in the river Padma.

Another Padma char has been picked for the proposed Bangabandhu international airport, as the previous location, Char Janajat, has been found vulnerable to erosion.
The cell for the project's implementation has selected Char Bilashpur as the new site that emerged from the Padma River nearly 50 years ago in Dohar upazila of Dhaka.
The development came after a hydrological survey found Char Janajat in Madaripur prone to erosion. This is the seventh time the cell has chosen a new site for the project.
Char Bilashpur located on the other side of the river bank from across the previous spot is a vast tract of land. It is attached to the mainland and about 45 kilometres away from the capital. The site is 18.5 kilometres long and 10 kilometres wide.
Although the new spot is nearly 10 kilometres upstream of the Padma from the Mawa point of the proposed Padma bridge, it is not vulnerable to erosion, said sources in the cell quoting from the final report on morphological analysis of the river relating to the bridge's design.
Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services prepared the report.
On September 8, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader picked Char Janajat of Shibchar upazila in Madaripur for the project after a presentation on four possible sites. He asked Joynal Abedin Talukder, the cell chief, to conduct a pre-feasibility study on Char Janajat and Keyain in Munshiganj.
The prime minister will pick and approve a suitable location from one or more sites recommended by the cell. The civil aviation ministry will then appoint a consulting firm to conduct a feasibility study. Tenders for the project will be floated after the study.
The airport will be constructed under public-private partnership.
The government took up the initiative to construct Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib International Airport and a city around it in line with the Awami League's election manifesto. It formed a cell headed by a joint secretary to implement the project.
The cell had earlier selected Trishal in Mymensingh, Arial Beel and Keyain in Munshiganj, Baghiar Beel in Madaripur-Gopalganj, Bhanga in Faridpur and then Char Janajat in Madaripur for the project. The government had to backtrack on its decision to build the airport in Arial Beel in the face of violent protests by locals.
Many experts at that time argued that the country does not need another international airport at the moment; rather the existing airport should be expanded and renovated.
In response, the prime minister said the number of flights at Shahjalal International Airport will exceed one lakh a year in a decade and the airport will not be able to handle such load even after a massive renovation.
Whishing anonymity, an official of the civil aviation and tourism ministry said the cell chief had been asked to submit a detailed report on the new site as soon as possible.
Although some plots of land need to be reclaimed, the new site will be suitable for the project in terms of availability of land, proximity to the capital and easy transportation of fuel by river, the official said.