PM opens Air Force base in Cox's Bazar

Hasina outlines her government's plan to modernise the Air Force as she opens a new air base. UPDATES

Cox's Bazar, Apr 3 (bdnews24.com) —The prime minister has inaugurated a new base of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) in the beach town.

Sheikh Hasina opened the Air Force base around 11:30am on Sunday.

Five BAF fighter planes flew over the function spraying red and green colours when the prime minister inaugurated the base.

Outlining her government's plan to modernise the Air Force, Hasina said, "The Air Force will guard the country's marine territory alongside its air boundary."

Post and telecommunications minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, communications minister Syed Abul Hossain, civil aviation and tourism minister G M Quader, primary and mass education minister Afsarul Ameen, state minister for environment and forest Hasan Mahmud, former Chittagong mayor A B M Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Awami League leader Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu, and Abdur Rahman Bodi MP were present at the function.

Bringing some changes in her schedule, the prime minister also laid the foundation of stone of Cox's Bazar Medical College, and inaugurated the construction of Cox's Bazar-Dohajari railway and upgrading of the submarine cable of Cox's Bazar landing station.

She attended the programmes immediately after the inauguration of the air base although she was scheduled to attend those after 2pm.

Hasina, also the Awami League president, was scheduled to address a public meeting of the district unit of the party on the Cox's Bazar sea beach rest house ground (locally known as Jele Park) before 3pm.

She flew in here at 11am.

bdnews24.com/corr/sht/mr/1610h