Demand of reopening Ishwardi Airport ignored

 
Some private airlines, Pabna district administration, public representatives, foreign nationals working at different development projects in the district and residents of Ishwardi have demanded the resume of airline service. They also opined that they are facing waste of time, insecurity and financial losses as the airline service of the Ishwardi Airport for the last seven years. If the airline service of the airport is resumed, locals, foreigners, businessmen and airlines holding companies in the country will get benefitted. Besides, the government will also get revenues from there.

Demanding the reopen of the Ishwardi Airport, Bir Muktijoddha Nuruzzaman Biswas, Member of Parliament from Pabna-4 constituency, said, "I discussed the matter to resume the operation of airline service in the airport during the Sangsad session. I will also raise the issue in Parliament during the budget speech."

Alexey Deriy, Vice-President - Director for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant construction project of JSC ASE, told the media that we support the idea of establishing an airline service between Dhaka and Ishwardi. It will help our people to save valuable time and avoid trouble."

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) PM Imrul Kayes said "There was no progress even though the district administration had repeatedly mentioned the importance of urgent opening of the airport to the higher authorities."

Shafiqul Islam Bachchu, President of Ishwardi Industries and Merchants Association, said "Through reopening of Ishwardi Airport, local and foreign entrepreneurs will be able to invest more in various companies in the area including EPZs."

Ruhul Quddus, site in-charge of RNPP, said "About 4,000 foreigners working in Pabna, especially Russians, have been suffering because the airport is not operational. After landing in Dhaka from Russia, they have to face traffic jams. For this reason, the airport needs to be opened quickly."

Due to traffic congestion, it usually takes 7 to 10 hours to travel from Dhaka to Ishwardi on highway. Because of this, the foreign engineers, technicians from other countries, including Russia, are using helicopters for travelling, he added. In fact, the Rooppur nuclear power project, the Ishwardi EPZ, location of some important institutions including Pabna sugar mill, Bangladesh sugarcane research institute, pulse research institute, Bangladesh railway's western headquarter, Paksey made Ishwardi an important hub for business and  that's why foreigners ha travelling has also increased a lot.

It is mentionable that the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh reopened the airport to expand operations on domestic routes after 17 years in 2014. Kamrul Islam, General Manager (Public Relations) of US-Bangla Airlines, said "The state-of-the-art aircraft in the fleet of Bangladeshi airlines can't be landed on the runway at Ishwardi at present.

Some development work needs to be done at the airport."

If facilities and infrastructure development like other domestic airports in Bangladesh can be ensured, then US-Bangla Airlines will operate flights on this route, he added.

According to Civil Aviation Authority, Ishwardi Airport has been built on 435 acres of land. Its runway is 4,700 feet long and 75 feet wide. Currently, the type of aircraft (Dash-6, ATR) used by Bangladesh Airlines is not suitable for landing at the airport. The length and width of the runway need to be further increased and improved. In addition, modernization of traffic control system and overall safety of the airport need to be given more importance. This will cost a large sum of money.

--- AA Correspondent in Ishwardi