THAKURGAON, May 20, (V7N) — Flight operations at Thakurgaon Airport will resume within the next two years, fulfilling an election promise by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and work has already started.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam made the announcement at a reception organized by the district BNP at the abandoned Thakurgaon Airport after inspecting the site this afternoon.
Officials said it will take about two years to reopen the airport through runway renovation, boundary wall construction, and infrastructure development. A full team from the ministry visited the site today.
The airport was established in 1940 during World War II on 550 acres in the Shibganj-Madarganj area, 8 kilometers southwest of the district town, for wartime needs. Heavily damaged in an Indian Air Force attack during the 1965 Indo-Pak war, it was renovated in 1977 and operated commercial flights for a few years. It has remained abandoned since closing due to passenger shortages.
Speaking at the reception, Fakhrul said the promises Tarique Rahman made in Thakurgaon have been implemented in just three months.
Citing government measures in Thakurgaon, he said a vice-chancellor has already been appointed for Thakurgaon University, work to establish a medical college is underway, and Bhulli and Ruhiya in Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila have been made upazilas. “This neglected district is moving towards development,” he added.
On politics, Fakhrul, also BNP secretary general, said Jamaat will never come to power in this country because “they betrayed this country and its people in 1971.”
“Jamaat created a wave of lies in the last election. But politics does not work on religion and lies. The people of this country will never forgive them,” he said. He added that Jamaat wants to mislead the people.
Afroza Khanam said she expects the airport to be operational within two years, as BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman promised before the election.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat; Thakurgaon-3 lawmaker Md. Zahidur Rahman; newly appointed first Vice Chancellor of Thakurgaon University Prof Israfil Shaheen; District BNP President Mirza Faisal Amin; General Secretary Poygam Ali; and local administration officials were present.
