The government is very much keen to develop all the domestic and international airports of the country. Under continuous supervision of the authorities concerned, the construction work of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) has achieved satisfactory progress.
State Minister for Aviation Mahbub Ali came up with the assertion while speaking after the inauguration of the extended domestic terminal at HSIA on Wednesday.
Mahbub Ali said, “The construction progress of the third terminal at HSIA is satisfactory. Until now 10 percent of the total work has already been completed. The existing first and second terminals will be renovated in line with the completion of the construction of the third terminal of HSIA. The airport will be one of the most sophisticated airports in the region.”
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed us to operate 24-hour flights from all the airports of the country. According to the directive, work is underway for 24-hour flights operation from all airports in the country. From February next, 24-hour flights will be operated from Cox's Bazar Airport. After that, this activity will be conducted gradually from other airports of the country,” Mahbub Ali said.
Citing the government is yet to take any decision on flight suspension with the United Kingdom. The state minister said, “Flights with the UK would continue at present. The matter is under deep observation. If such situation arises, an instant decision will be made to stop the flight operations. We are monitoring the overall situation.”
“Those who are coming from London are being screened separately at Dhaka, Sylhet, and Chattogram airports. Besides, everyone is being allowed to enter Bangladesh by showing Covid-19 certificate,” added the state minister.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Mofidur Rahman said, separate screening of passengers returning to the UK has been arranged at three airports in the country.
He said, “Airlines have been instructed to provide lists of transit passengers or passengers arriving on any flight from the UK directly. We have that ability to check and scan the UK passengers separately at the country’s three airports.”
The second wave of coronavirus is surging in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, a new type of coronavirus has spread in the country. As a result, at least 40 countries around the world, including Germany, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Turkey, India and Canada, have temporarily suspended flights to the United Kingdom.
Civil aviation and tourism ministry information showed that due to coronavirus, Bangladesh has so far lost more than Tk 3,000 crore in aviation and about Tk 2,000 crore in the tourism sector.
