Flight operation at HazratShahjalal International Airport delayed for about three hours due to dense fog on Tuesday. During this time four flights could not land in Dhaka besides all domestic flights were stopped. When the runway visibility becomes clear flight operations were normal.
According to sources at HazratShahjalal International Airport, US-Bangla Airlines flights from Doha landed at Sylhet and flights from Singapore and Sharjah landed at Chittagong due to fog. Besides, flight from Dammam was sent to Sylhet.
Due to the same reason Biman’s flight from Kuala Lumpur to Dhaka landed late. Due to the fog, flights of Saudi Airlines from Riyadh and Madinah to Dhaka, US-Bangla from Muscat, and flights of Fly Dubai from Dubai kept flying in the sky of Dhaka for hours together.
Besides, due to fog, about 50 international and domestic flights from Dhaka could not take off and land on time. After the opening of the runway, priority was given to the landing and departure of flights.
HSIA Executive Director Group Captain MdKamrul Islam informed media that due to the dense fog flight operation from Six o’clock to Nine o’clock remain suspended. With the improvementof runway visibility flight operation return to its normal position.
Meanwhile, Ferry service on Daulatdia-Paturia route remain closed due to dense fog. On Tuesday (January 3), the authorities concerned stopped the ferry service from 3:40 am, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) DaulatdiaGhat Branch Manager (Trade) MdSalahuddin confirmed this.
He said, the intensity of fog on the river was increasing since the dawn. Due to thick fog, the river marking lights were obscured. This makes it difficult for the ferry masters to run the ferry. Therefore, ferry service on Daulatdia-Paturia route was stopped from 4:30 am to avoid boat accidents. Once the fog clears, ferry traffic will be normal again, the manager added.
