Home ›› 01 Sep 2021 ›› News
With the commissioning of third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the yearly passenger handling capacity of all Bangladeshi airports will hit 2-crore mark which is now 80 lakh.
Bangladesh will become an international aviation hub because of our strategic geographical location, said Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) — the regulatory authority of Bangladeshi airports — in an interview with Hasan Al Javed of The Business Post.
He also talked about the current situation of the aviation sector amid the global pandemic, domestic and flight operations, impact of Covid-19 on the rising sector, various airport development projects eyeing the global market and other issues.
The Business Post: Amid the pandemic, the aviation sector is struggling. How will the CAAB cope with the crisis?
M Mafidur Rahman: Aviation sector of Bangladesh has been struggling in the pandemic period. Not only our country but also the air transportation of the whole world has sustained the Covid-induced economic
blow. As you know, Bangladesh’s income from aviation industry has dwindled to 50 per cent compared to that of pre-pandemic period in 2019 but the loss amounted to 70 per cent in some regions of the world. Lockdowns or shutdowns were slapped repeatedly to check the spread of the disease
and we have tried to keep aviation sector afloat. A large number of expatriates, who send foreign remittances to Bangladesh, were transported by special flights.
We have prepared all airports as per the World Health Organization (WHO) and the government health guidelines to curb the spread of the disease. We resumed operation of flights on selected routes from June, 2020 to absorb the pandemic-induced economic shock.
This time around, as Delta variant has hit India hard so its neighbouring countries are forced to declare shutdown.
TBP: What kind of challenges are you facing right now in the Covid-19 situation?
MMR: Most of the airlines did not carry the passenger last year even though they were vaccinated. But we have now relaxed the bar on the vaccinated passengers in an order. The European Union, United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other countries are following this policy. We are planning to bring a huge change to the civil aviation authority’s new order when it comes to vaccination. Those who are vaccinated will be able to fly on air.
The WHO has categorised the countries of the world into three groups — highly risky, risky and the rest.
We imposed restrictions on all types of transportation with high risk countries in March 2020 and no passenger could fly to and fro. Now all the aviation bars for Bangladeshi travellers have gone and the CAAB is allowing passengers to fly abroad if the receiving country has no restriction.
In the case of risky countries, travelers must be Covid-19 negative and they have to undergo institutional
quarantine. But if vaccinated, the traveller will have to be in home quarantine, he said.
A teenager from a risky country visiting Bangladesh with their vaccinated parents must carry Covid-19 test negative report. This new aviation order applies too to travellers from India if the country’s coronavirus situation improves.
We are increasing the number of flights to those countries which have permitted our flights as per passenger demand.
TBP: What’s new at the 3rd terminal in HSIA?
MMR: Modern passenger friendly handling, cargo handling, high security, immigration management or other state-of-the-art systems will be installed at the 3rd terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA). This terminal will be a first multimodal hub in our aviation industry.
There will be a new boarding bridge; our automated conveyor belt will pass the passenger luggage. We have included the health screening devices at the airport against the backdrop of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
TBP: International airports of many countries are connected with bus and railway line, what will be at the 3rd terminal?
MMR: We have taken an initiative to connect the railway line with the 3rd terminal of the HSIA. Bus and under-construction metro rail will also be connected with the multimodal hub.
Our dream airport terminal will facilitate movement of all kinds of passengers. A passenger easily can avail a bus or rail services or walk to their destinations. Elderly or disabled people can move without any hassles using wheelchairs on their way to boarding trains or buses.
TBP: With the airport face-lift, are you planning to open new routes?
MMR: Many countries have already expressed their interest to connect with us because our country is geo-strategically in an important location and also hosting economic zones. Covid-19 pandemic created some barriers but it will be over soon. So many
countries, which want to use code sharing with us for their shining future, may think Bangladesh will be an aviation hub. But we cannot allow them all at the same time.
You know, Bangladesh is going to operate flights from Dhaka to Rwanda and Ethiopia very soon in a bid to ease communication. A huge amount of medicine or medical
equipment, readymade garments and agriculture items are being exported to Rwanda and Ethiopia. With the new move to have direct air connection with the African countries
Bangladesh will get opportunity to expand trade ties.
TBP: What is the government plan on other domestic and international airports?
MMR: To boost the local and international tourism in the country, Cox’s Bazar Airport is set to get international status. Its runway is being expanded both on land and towards the sea with capacity building. Similarly, Osmani International Airport of Sylhet is having runway expansion and other development programmes. Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram will also to have infrastructural development soon so that large aircrafts can operate.
Moreover, Shah Makhdum Airport of Rajshahi, Saidpur Airport and other domestic airports will have more capacity-building projects.
You will be happy that people are feeling comfortable to travel by aircraft despite the coronavirus pandemic. Once the Covid-19 situation is over, the air transportation will increase. Now we are trying to support the aviation companies and passengers.
TBP: How do you see the projected jet fuel price hike?
MMR: We have communicated with the state-owned company Padma, which supplies jet fuel through ministry. Civil aviation authority is hoping that the fuel company will keep the jet fuel prices at reasonable level so that the aviation industry can tide over the Covid-induced economic fallout.
TBP: What’s about the proposed Bangabandhu Airport?
MMR: A consultancy firm recently submitted a study report on the proposed “Bangabandhu Airport”. We have chosen two locations on the other side of the Padma River in consideration of geographical location. The proposal will sail through national-level decisions.
