Bangladesh’s geographic location can make it aviation hub: CAAB

Dhaka: Bangladesh has the potential to become an aviation hub due to its geographic location, said Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh on December 2.

"Capacity building of the airlines, infrastructural development and skilled manpower are crucial to make it happen," said CAAB Chief at a seminar titled "Aviation and Tourism opportunity: Connecting Bangladesh with the world" at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital.

The seminar was held on the sidelines of the Bangladesh International Travel and Tourism Expo organised by the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (Atab) at BICC.

Presenting the keynote at the seminar, Mafidur Rahman said Bangladesh is important for geographic reasons as all South Asian countries can be reached within two hours from here.

Besides, any country in Asia can be reached in four hours and all European countries in about six hours. Hence, Bangladesh has the potential to become an aviation hub, he added.

"We have to increase the capacity of our airports. The government has taken several mega projects for the development of this sector. Construction of the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is underway in full swing. A massive 'Export Cargo Complex' is being constructed at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet and the runway extension work of Cox's Bazar Airport is also in progress," he said.

Even though the number of flights is increasing every year, providing cheap fuel has become the biggest challenge at the moment, noted CAAB Chairman, adding that the Russia-Ukraine war is creating a negative impact on the aviation sector.

"Another big challenge is to keep pace with the latest technology as aviation is a technology-dependent sector. We need to create skilled manpower for expanding this sector," Mafidur Rahman said.

At the seminar, SM Nazmul Anam, Regional Officer of Flight Safety at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), said country branding and developing infrastructure are necessary for Bangladesh to be an aviation hub.

Bangladesh Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber and Atab President SN Manzur Murshed also spoke in the seminar chaired by Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain.

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