Bogura Airport: Boost for northern economy

Bogura Correspondent :

Bogura Airport is poised to become operational on a limited scale for commercial use, provided the government allocates funds for necessary runway upgrades, infrastructure, and other facilities within a year.

Bangladesh Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, expressed optimism during a visit to the airport recently.

Speaking to journalists in Arulia, near the Bogura-Naogaon inter-district road, he underscored the potential of the airport to transform the socio-economic landscape of northern Bangladesh and significantly ease regional communication.

Marshal Khan announced the formation of a board in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to submit the proposal to the interim government.

He highlighted that Bogura Airport had been proposed multiple times to previous administrations but was overlooked as a priority.

To operationalise the airport, the runway needs an expansion to 6,000 feet from its current 4,700 feet. The estimated time for completing the upgrades is at least one year.

Without immediate government approval, the project may face further delays, awaiting decisions from the next elected government.

Once operational, Bogura Airport is expected to enhance economic activities in the northern region significantly. The airport could open up new avenues for trade, tourism, and transportation, benefiting the region’s residents and businesses.

The initiative to establish Bogura Airport dates back to 1987. During the BNP government’s 1991–96 tenure, a project worth Tk. 22 crore was approved, and 109.81 acres of land were acquired in Erulia, Bogura Sadar. However, the project faced delays and political neglect, leaving the airport incomplete for decades.

The visit was attended by CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan, Bogura Deputy Commissioner Hosna Afroza, and Superintendent of Police Zedan Al-Musa, among others.