The country's aviation infrastructure is set to get a major impetus with the upgradation of most of the airports, a senior official said.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) chief said Cox's Bazar airport would be more modernised than Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram.
CAAB chairman Air Vice-Marshal M Naim Hassan said the prime minister wanted it to be an alternative transit point for Europe or Singapore, New Zealand, Korea and Japan-bound passengers instead of Dubai.
On the other hand, the Osmani International Airport in Sylhet will be upgraded in three phases by 2040 at an estimated cost of Tk 24 billion.
The authorities are also set to upgrade Saidpur airport as the regional hub connecting Bhutan, India and Nepal.
"We're building an arrival and departure lounge to the east of Cox's Bazar airport alongside a big hall beside domestic lounge at Tk 2.75 billion," he said recently.
This would be operational within months, he disclosed.
Mr Hassan said the runway had already been expanded to 9,000ft and it would be further widened to 12,000ft.
"The ECNEC recently approved a development project proforma to widen the runway to 12,000ft so that wide-body aircraft like Airbus380 can land there."
"This will be on the river and work is due to start by the beginning of next year," the CAAB chief said.
The instrument landing system will be installed within 15 days after the CAAB gets land from the government, he added.
Work on approach and landing aid [very high frequency (VHF) omni-directional range (VOR)] is also ongoing.
The runway of Osmani airport would be improved so that wide-body aircraft of longer distance can take off from there with full payload, said Mr Hassan.
The airport will have one terminal building, four boarding bridges and a cargo complex, taking into consideration the London flight operations.
"Consultation regarding the project is done. The project has also been approved. Advertisement will be published within one month," the CAAB leader said.
The CAAB has installed simple approach light along with the previous VOR at Saidpur airport, he stated.
Aircraft will be able to land on foggy mornings of winter, Mr Hassan added.
Besides, the departure lounge will be expanded to accommodate 500 passengers to ease passenger pressure.
This means passengers of eight flights can be handled at a time at the airport, the official said.
Only two aircraft can be parked at the apron or tarmac of Saidpur airport now. It will be widened so that four aircraft can be parked at a time, he mentioned.
"It will take one year to build the terminal. The tarmac will be prepared very soon," he told the FE.
Passengers of India and Khulna go to Jashore airport where eight to 10 flights operate daily.
The CAAB will construct a new departure lounge where 600 passengers can be accommodated-400 at holding lounge and 200 around ticket counters, Mr Hassan said.
"The new lounge will be operational by the next one year and a half. Tarmac expansion work is ongoing so that another four aircraft can park at a time."
The domestic airport in Dhaka will be extended to one floor with stairs and an escalator by next year to accommodate another 600 passengers, Mr Hassan added.
The number of air travellers has increased significantly, he mentioned.
"Whenever an airline seeks permission, we permit instantly considering demand. But infrastructure hasn't increased proportionately…," the CAAB chief said.
