PM Inaugurates Cox's Bazar International Airport

She said after establishment of the BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal), road connectivity the trans Asia rail link will get shape without delay as four South East Asian countries- Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) have envisaged building an economic corridor to expedite their economic growth.

Sheikh Hasina said this while inaugurating the construction of the Cox's Bazar International Airport through a video-conference with ministers, local representatives and officials concerned at Cox's Bazar airport premises.

Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon also spoke on the occasion from Cox's Bazar side.

Secretary of the Civil Aviation Ministry Khorshed Alam Chowdhury briefed about the Taka 578 crore project saying the existing runway of Cox's Bazar airport would be extended to 9000-feet from 6,675-feet in length while in the width the runway would be expanded to 200-feet from 150-feet under the project.

Besides, airfield lighting system would be set up for night operation of the flights, she said adding that the facilities would enhance capacity of the existing airports to operate wide-bodied Boeing-777 from the airport. To facilitate road communications with Cox's Bazar a bridge would be constructed on the Bak Khali river, she said adding that the project would be completed in 30 months.

Sheikh Hasina hoped that the BBIN road transit would get shape within six months when four countries would enjoy the facilities of movement of their passenger and goods carrying vehicles across their borders.

Pointing out the World Bank's recent report on Bangladesh's success in becoming a lower-mid income country the Prime Minister said Bangladesh within two to three years would be a middle income country.

She said Bangladesh could continue its economic growth over the last few years amidst many obstacles including political disturbances and heinous conspiracy to thwart out the pace of development.

"It's the success of Bangladesh," she said adding that none would derail the country from its aspired goal to be a prosperous and peaceful country in South Asia.

Highlighting the importance of Cox's Bazar as a tourist destination and its geographical location, the Prime Minister said the world's longest sandy beach surrounded with scenic beauty should be developed as an attractive one for local and foreign tourists.

Besides, Cox's Bazar has become an important strategic place for us in the backdrop of establishing Bangladesh's sovereignty on new maritime territory in the Bay of Bengal. "Cox's Bazar airport can also be used for refueling of the continental jet planes," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the proposed rail line connecting Chittagong and Gundhum of Cox's Bazar would begin very shortly as the feasibility study of the project and land acquisition has already been completed.

Mentioning the projects taken by her government in Cox's Bazar district the Prime Minister said the Ultra Super Critical Thermal Power Plant in Matarbari and an economic zone in Sabran would change the whole development scenery of the tourist city and it would play massive role in socio-economic development of the area.

Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken adequate plan for rehabilitation of the people to be affected by the projects so that they can enjoy all basic facilities for their livelihood, health and education.

"Cox's Bazar has been neglected for long ....., it's over," she said a division of Bangladesh Army has been constituted in Cox's Bazar. A marine aquarium would be constructed in Cox's Bazar, she announced.

At the beginning the Prime Minister expressed her profound sympathy to the people of Cox's Bazar for loss of lives and property due to recent flood. She said the government has already sent necessary relief materials for the flood victims. "The destroyed roads would be reconstructed soon after the monsoon," she said.