Japanese firm to study feasibility of Bangabandhu airport

The CAAB signed an agreement with Nippon Koei Co Ltd in the capital on Wednesday. The study, that would cost Tk120 crore, is expected to be completed in 18 months. Air Vice-Marshall Ehsanul Gani Chowdhury, chairman of CAAB and Toshika Ju Kambara, deputy director general of Nippon Koei, signed the pact on behalf of their organizations at CAAB headquarters. The feasibility study team would verify all factors, including cost and risk benefits, economic and financial impacts, financing and airport operation strategy, environmental impact and management plant. The existing infrastructure facilities of the country's main gateway, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, are insufficient to meet the increasing air traffic demand as it faces some constraints to expand the airport. Considering the fact, the government has moved with the building of a new airport. Three sites – Char Janajat in Madaripur district, Keyain and Latobdi in Munshiganj district and Char Bilashpur in Dhaka district – have primarily been selected for the airport, according to the CAAB. In the project proposal, its construction cost has been estimated at Tk50,000 crore involving three 14,500-feet runways. The airport area will be 8,000 acre and the completion of the project will require about 10 years.