DHAKA: The construction work of Padma Bridge is proceeding rapidly to make real the much-awaited dream of the people of county’s south-western region.

Besides, the government is planning to set up an international airport as part of making a well-planned city around the bridge.

On a spot visit, Banglanews24.com team came to know that a new airport would be established at any side of the under construction bridge.

People of the bridge area also talked about it. The airport will be named after the Father of the Nation -- Bangabandhu International Airport -- as per decision taken by the government earlier.

Inhabitants of the bridge area also said that they will get the touch of urbanization and their life style will be changed into modern one if a new airport is built here.

Some responsible quarters of the Government also visited the area and conducting research on the proposed new airport.

Additional Secretary of Tourism and Civil Aviation Ministry Md. Rafiquzzaman told Banglanews that a study in this direction is going on. Bangabandhu International Airport will be built at a suitable site.

The Civil Aviation Ministry sources told that four sites have been selected after a detailed study of various aspects of an airport.  

Earlier, government decided to set up Bangabandhu International Airport on 25,000 acres of land at Arial Bil (swamp) of Munshiganj district. There was plan to build the airport on 10,000 acres of land while Bangabandhu City on the rest 15,000 acres.

But the plan had to be abandoned for the agitation by local people.

This time, however, the government is thinking to select the site at any side of the Padma Bridge excluding the Arial Bil.

The possible sites selected so far are three sites at Mawa part and another at Jajira part. Char Janajat under Shibchar- Madaripur is the most prospective one as told by ministry sources. Char Bilashpur, Keayen and Latabdi are on the Maowa part of Munshiganj district.

The civil aviation authority has sent a technical project proposal (TPP) to the Ministry to make a feasibility study by appointing consultant funded from own sources, Ministry source said.

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) sources informed that the estimated cost of the feasibility study has been fixed at Tk 236.75-crore and the time frame has been scheduled from July 2015 to June 2017.

Joint Secretary of Civil Aviation Ministry Dr. Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum told Banglanews that an international consultation firm will be appointed to select the site by taking several factors into consideration.

She further said, “The feasibility study will have to consider the factors of environment, quality of soil and related social factors. The site will depend on the recommendation of the consultant’s report.”

However, the concerned people told that the airport can be built on the other side of river Padma as the distance will not be an impediment due to the bridge.

BDST: 1535 HRS, MAY 28, 2015
Shahjahan/SR