The construction work of Sylhet Osmani Airport refueling station is on the verge of the completion and international flights are expected to start from March this year.
The construction work began in January 2012 with a budget of Tk51.18 crore under the supervision of Padma Oil, a state-owned petroleum company.
The project was scheduled to end in June last year but it was delayed because of many different reasons stated by the authorities concerned. Later, the deadline was extended to June of this year, increasing the budget to over Tk53.15 crore.
Project Director Aminul Haq said around 70% work of the refueling station was completed as the construction of three of the total five section sof the station had finished.
He said: “If there is no political unrest in the coming days ahead, the machineries will be installed soon which have already reached Dhaka and Chittagong offices. The work of the project will end by March this year after which international flights can start operating.”
Jalalabad Vegetable and Frozen Fish Exporters’ Association General Secretary Monzur Ahmed said: “The refuelling station would create the possibility to export goods along with the transportation service.”
Establishments at the refuelling station are a three-storey office building, three storage tanks, pipe line, electric centre, rest house, garage, officers’ and staffs’ rooms, two dispensers and filtering system. Besides, there are three reservation tanks, hydrant line, depot refuelling dispenser and filter, and large tank lorries.
The announcement to make Sylhet Osmani Airport as the third international airport came in December 20, 1998.The airport’s digitalisation process started in 2004. Later, international flight at the airport kicked off in March 12, 2006 which however halted after few days since there was no refuelling system.
The refuelling system project started in 2012 after the decision of its construction was taken in 2010, following the promise of Sylhet 1 constituency Awami League candidate Abul Maal Abdul Muhith in the parliamentary election in 2008.
Human Rights Peace for Bangladesh lodged a writ petition with the High Court a year back against the decision to suspend the Sylhet-London flight, said journalist Rahmat Ali.