Political timeline of Bogura Airport Project

For over thirty years, there have been ongoing discussions concerning the airport in Bogura. Land acquisition and infrastructure development have been undertaken. Political declarations have been made repeatedly. Yet, no commercial aircraft have taken to the skies over Bogura thus far. This initiative was referred to as the gateway to the potential of the northern region. Subsequently, it was assumed by the Air Force. Nevertheless, the Awami League government has rekindled hopes for the airport. Currently, these discussions have resumed during the BNP administration. The government has announced plans for an international standard airport, an air base, and a flying academy in the district. Reviewing the discussions and events surrounding the airport over the past 39 years reveals that the momentum and objectives of this project have shifted in accordance with political changes. The initial discussions regarding the airport commenced in 1987 during the Jatiya Party administration. At that time, the first steps towards establishing an airport in Bogura were initiated. However, due to various administrative and technical challenges, that initiative did not progress. Following the BNP government's ascension to power in 1991, a policy decision to establish an airport in Bogura was ratified at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). The formal process for implementing the project also began at that time. In 1995, 109.81 acres of land were acquired in the Erulia area of Bogura along the Bogura-Naogaon highway. However, the construction of the project's visible infrastructure commenced in 1996 after the Awami League government took office. During that period, the project to construct essential infrastructure, including the runway, office buildings, residential accommodations for officials, electricity and water supply systems, and access roads was initiated. The project was completed in 2000.

Despite the completion of infrastructure construction, commercial flights from Bogura had not yet commenced. Furthermore, the airport remained unsuitable for commercial operations. Subsequently, when the BNP government assumed power in 2001, a decision was made to alter the management of the airport project. The airfield in Bogura was transferred to the Bangladesh Air Force, which currently operates a training center there. After an extended period of inactivity, the project was revisited in 2021 under the Awami League government. On March 1 of that year, an application was submitted to the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority (BACA) to propose the establishment of a commercial airport in Bogura. This application was filed by the then Member of Parliament for the Bogura-7 (Shajahanpur-Gabatoli) constituency, Md. Rezaul Karim Bablu. In light of this application, a five-member committee was also constituted. On November 15, 2021, a delegation from BACA visited the site designated for the airport. The delegation was headed by the then Deputy Secretary of BACA, Ishrat Jahan Panna. The team included the then Deputy Director (Air Traffic Management) Md. Masud Rana, Executive Engineer Md. Aminul Hasib, Assistant Director Prashant Kumar Saha, and Senior Draftsman Kabir Hossain. The then Member of Parliament Md. Rezaul Karim Bablu was also present during the site inspection. Subsequently, the committee reported in favor of establishing a commercial airport in Bogura, as stated by MP Bablu. Rezaul Karim Bablu further mentioned that at that time, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism also deliberated on a potential cost plan for the opening of a commercial airport in Bogura. However, due to the economic repercussions of the Corona pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, that initiative was not realized. The BNP government made a new announcement regarding the airport on Thursday (May 7). Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for LGRD Mir Shahe Alam, and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan have visited the airfield.

After the visit, they said that the government has taken a formal plan to upgrade the airfield to an international standard airport. At the same time, a full-fledged air force base and a flying academy will be established there to train pilots.