State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali said that the government has plans to construct an airport in Noakhali.
He said, “There has already been a major revolution in the aviation sector. Our ministry has visited the airport site before. We are trying to meet the expectations of the people of Noakhali.”
He made the remarks after visiting Charshullukia in Noakhali Sadar upazila, the proposed site for the airport on Friday morning.
The state minister further said, “We have come here again today on the instructions of the Prime Minister. We have toured the entire area, including the runway. The government has plans to convert the abandoned airstrip on this 16-acre land into a full-fledged airport.”
Ayesha Ferdous, Member of Parliament from Noakhali-6 constituency, who was present during this time, said that the establishment of an international airport in Noakhali would change the picture of development and economic life in this region.
“This will increase the industrial potential and domestic and foreign tourists in Nijhum Dwip. Due to the lack of an international communication system, many foreign tourists are unable to come here even if they want to. The country's tourism industry is being affected for this reason. If an international airport is built in Noakhali, a lot of domestic as well as foreign tourists will start coming here. This will open the door to another new possibility in the tourism industry of Bangladesh,” she said.
Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mozammel Hossain, Chief Executive (Additional Secretary) of Bangladesh Tourism Board Jabed Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Khorshed Alam Khan and Convener of Noakhali District Awami League Khairul Anam Chowdhury Selim were present during this time, among others.
It may be mentioned that former Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shahjahan Kamal officially announced the government’s plan to establish an airport in Noakhali in 2018.