We should create a roadmap to turn Bangladesh into an aviation hub: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today stressed on the need for preparing a roadmap to make Bangladesh an aviation hub in the region.

"Reaping on the dividend of our geo-strategic advantage, we should create a roadmap to make our country an aviation hub," she said in a video statement aired at the inaugural session of the first edition of Aviation Summit in Dhaka.

The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry in collaboration with the UK and France organised Bangladesh Aviation Summit-2023 at a hotel in the capital.

Hasina said this summit is very significant for Bangladesh in context of the nation's aspiration to become an aviation hub in the region.

She said just after achieving the membership of ICAO in 1973, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman undertook measures to turn Bangladesh into an 'Aviation Hub' to connect the East and the West, capitalising the advantage of our geographical location.

After the assassination of the Father of the Nation in 1975, the move came to a halt, she added.

"We have undertaken several measures to support the development of an aviation hub. During the last one decade, we implemented a host of projects to upgrade our airports, airport security and ground handling," said the prime minister.

Besides, a number of projects are running which include HSIA Expansion Project (Phase-I), Construction of General Aviation Hangar, Hangar Apron and Apron at North side of Fire Station at HSIA; Strengthening of Existing Runway and Taxiway at Shah Amanat International Airport, Chattogram; Development of Cox's Bazar Airport (Phase-I), Cox's Bazar Airport Runway Extension Project; Strengthening of Existing Runway and Taxiway at Osmani International Airport, Sylhet; and Enhancement of Capacity of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh on Public Security at HSIA, she noted.

The third terminal being constructed under HSIA Expansion Project (Phase-I), will create a handling capacity of additional 12 million passengers and 4 million tonnes of cargo, she said.

"The government is going to introduce e-visa system which will also facilitate and expedite the flow of passengers visiting Bangladesh for business or tourism," she said.