Six high-rises along airport runway ordered to remove unauthorised parts

The CAAB cites risks associated with the take-off and landing of planes

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, or CAAB, has spotted six high-rise buildings along the runway of Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and ordered the unauthorised parts of the structures be knocked down.

Priyanka Runway City owns the buildings that are almost twice the approved height. These are causing risks to aircraft flying as they are on the side of the runway.

These high-rises have been identified during a drive conducted by the CAAB at the housing project. These are located adjacent to the airport’s runway-14 approach funnel.

CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan recently took notice of the matter and issued a letter to the aviation regulator’s Deputy Director Prosanta Kumer Shaha on Sunday, asking him to take initiatives to remove parts of the buildings.

The CAAB chief also asked the authorities to take measures regarding such illegal structures to ensure safe take-off and landing of planes at Dhaka airport.

When contacted, CAAB head Monjur told bdnews24.com: “We have asked our ATM [Air Traffic Management] director and RAJUK to mark and remove the illegal parts of the buildings. We are proceeding to this end following the rules.”

Priyanka housing's Plot No 9, 13, 26, 30, and 36 on Road No.1 and Plot No.51 on Road No. 3 in Dhaka’s Uttara have been made taller than the height approved per the Obstacle Limitation Surface, or OLS, the letter read.

OLS refers to the installation instructions around the airport runway.