A long-planned and much-anticipated airport project is set to move forward in Bogra, with authorities proposing the appointment of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology as the consulting firm for technical support.
Under the proposal, BUET will conduct a feasibility study, prepare a master plan, design the runway and pavement, and develop plans for a new terminal building. The project is estimated to cost nearly Tk 3,000 crore.
Officials involved in the project said the airport is expected to directly benefit Bogra, a key hub in northern Bangladesh, as well as nearby districts such as Joypurhat, Naogaon, Gaibandha, Rajshahi and Sirajganj.
They said the airport would open new avenues for the faster transportation and export of agricultural products, particularly vegetables and agricultural machinery. Improved connectivity is also expected to attract both local and foreign investment and make it easier for international business representatives to visit the region.
The project is also expected to support the development of small, medium and large-scale industries in the area, creating employment opportunities and helping reduce unemployment.
Stakeholders believe the airport will further strengthen Bogra’s position as a major regional hub in northern Bangladesh and contribute significantly to achieving the country’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The government has taken steps to transform Bogura Airport into a commercial aviation hub as part of broader efforts to redevelop the northern district.
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Member (Operations and Planning) Air Commodore Abu Sayeed Mehboob Khan told Dhaka Tribune that work is already underway to make the airport commercially operational.
“We are working to make Bogra Airport commercially operational, and steps will be taken soon to implement the plan. We have already started working on it,” he said.
The move comes amid a series of initiatives launched following the BNP government’s return to power to accelerate Bogra’s development. The city has already been declared a city corporation, while several measures have been taken to improve its transportation network.
As part of these efforts, authorities are now planning to expand and modernise Bogra Airport to make it suitable for commercial flight operations and bring it up to international standards.
According to sources, the airport is located in the Erulia area of Sadar upazila, about seven kilometres northwest of Bogra town. It was originally planned as a cargo airport.
The project was approved at an ECNEC meeting during the 1991–1996 tenure of the BNP government as part of an initiative to develop Bogra into a model district.
Under the project, 109.81 acres of land were acquired in Erulia mouza. A 4,000-foot-long and 100-foot-wide runway, office buildings, residential quarters for officials and staff, electricity and water supply systems, and road infrastructure were built.
However, the airport failed to begin operations in 2000 as originally scheduled.
Later, on October 22, 2006, a PT-6 training aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force began operating at the airport. Since then, the facility has largely been used for military training purposes.
According to sources at the CAAB, Bogra Airport currently has a 4,500-foot-long and 100-foot-wide runway, with a 15-foot shoulder and a 15-foot-wide taxiway. Existing infrastructure includes a four-storey terminal building, a two-storey fire station, a power house, an H-type building, and nearly 14,000 feet of perimeter fencing.
In addition, the Bangladesh Air Force is constructing two new buildings at the site, where the facilities have been used for military purposes for nearly 15 years. At present, the airport handles only training aircraft operations, as it lacks the standard runway, taxiway, apron and modern terminal facilities required for commercial flights.
To address these limitations, authorities have drawn up an extensive redevelopment plan to make the airport capable of handling medium-sized aircraft such as Boeing 767, Boeing 737, Airbus A310, Airbus A321 and McDonnell Douglas MD-82.
The proposed upgrades include extending the runway to 10,000 feet, constructing a new apron and taxiway, building a modern passenger terminal, improving site development and drainage systems, and installing Instrument Landing System (ILS), DVOR/DME, Category III airfield ground lighting and precision approach lighting systems, along with other supporting facilities.
Sources said the proposed consultancy services for the airport development project will cover a feasibility study, preparation of a master plan, pavement design, and the detailed design of a new passenger terminal building.
As part of the feasibility study, authorities will conduct topographic surveys, soil testing, prepare layouts of existing infrastructure, and carry out environmental and social impact assessments. Financial and economic analyses will also be undertaken, including calculations of net present value, cost-benefit ratio and internal rate of return.
A comprehensive master plan and land-use plan will also be prepared to ensure coordinated operations between civil and military aircraft.
Under the pavement design component, plans include strengthening the existing runway and taxiway, extending and widening the runway, constructing new aprons and taxiways, installing airfield ground lighting, and preparing operational designs for DVOR or ILS systems. Designs for connecting roads, parking areas and other infrastructure, along with tender documents, bills of quantities and a development project proposal, will also be prepared.
According to CAAB officials, the terminal design will include architectural, structural and interior plans for a new passenger terminal. Detailed plans will also cover water supply, sewage, sanitation and plumbing systems, central air conditioning, lifts, escalators, and baggage handling systems such as conveyor belts, check-in counters and carousels.
The project will also include airside and landside development, internal road construction, vehicle parking facilities, drainage improvements and culvert construction.