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Published : 07 May 2026, 04:01 PM
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam has visited Bogura Airport as part of the government's plan to upgrade it to international standards.
She inspected the Bogura Airport on Thursday morning in a special helicopter of the Air Force.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, and Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Tourism Fahmida Akhtar accompanied the minister at the time, according to a media statement from the ministry.
At the briefing after the visit, the aviation minister said: "We have come to visit Bogura on the instructions of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. By utilising the potential of the northern region, Bogura will be transformed into one of the aviation hubs of the country. The people of Bogura are truly lucky. The journey of this major plan for the ministry is starting from Bogura."
State Minister Millat said in addition to building an international-standard airport in Bogura, a plan has been taken to build a 10,500-foot-long runway so that domestic and international aircraft can land.
“A cargo facility will be set up here at the same time, which will play an important role in the agricultural, industrial and export trade of the northern region.”
He said, “The government has taken the initiative to expand the Bogura Airport to establish a pilot training academy and cargo facility in order to open new horizons in the communication, trade and aviation sectors of the northern region.
“[Thursday’s visit is aimed at implementing this initiative.”
Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood said, “The prime minister has already given the initial approval for the airport. A state-of-the-art air base will be built in the northern region.
“This is my promise. Modern training and operational facilities will be established there.”
Despite receiving approval in the 1990s, Bogura Airport could not be opened for several reasons. It has been used for training purposes by the Bangladesh Air Force since 2006.
It is currently being used as a short-haul airstrip (stallport).
This airport, established on about 109 acres of land, has a 4,500-foot long and 100-foot wide runway, a four-story terminal building, a two-story fire station, a power house, and limited security infrastructure.
However, it is not possible to operate flights from here at night due to the lack of runway lighting. In addition, the current infrastructure is not suitable for operating large commercial aircraft.
According to the government's plan, this airport will be upgraded to international standards in phases. As part of this, there is an initiative to build a 9,000-foot long and 150-foot wide runway on about 400 acres of land in the first phase, which will be expanded to 10,500 feet later.
As a result, about 283 hectares of new land will have to be acquired out of the planned 364 hectares in total.
There was also talk of opening Bogura Airport during the interim government, but it ultimately did not see the light of day.
