Expatriates-tourists waiting for flight at Shamshernagar airport

Green tea gardens all around, runway in between. The people of the tea region live in the dream that the aircraft will fly again on the runway that has been lying down for many years.

Expatriates and tourists have shown the most interest for the start of civil aircraft flights at Shamshernagar Airport in Moulvibazar. If the airport is opened, private airlines will be able to provide facilities to tourists in Sylhet section. Besides, the route is very promising as Moulvibazar district is dominated by tourism and expatriates.

According to related sources, this airport in Shamsernagar of Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar is much bigger than other airports. It has wide runways, improved transportation system and infrastructure facilities. The runway length of Shamsernagar Airport is 6 thousand feet and width is 75 feet. Currently Bangladesh Air Force has established Recruits Training School at this place. Agricultural farms and educational institutions have been built on the fallow lands. A small part of the runway is rehabilitated and regular training of the Air Force is underway. In the year 2022, the special work of rescue and relief distribution in Sylhet region was completed from this air base.

It is known that this airport, one of the largest in the country, was built in 1942 for military use. It was built by acquiring 622 acres of land in Shamsernagar tea garden of Kamalganj upazila. The airport was then named 'Dilzand Port'. After independence, the name was changed to 'Shamsernagar Airport'. An air force unit was opened at this airport in 1975. In 1995, Aero Bengal Air Service flights were started privately with the efforts of former Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman. But due to lack of necessary facilities these airlines could not attract passengers. After that two former ministers of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry GM Quader and Rashed Khan Menon announced the opening of the airport.

Expats are more interested in starting flights
According to the official list, the number of expatriates in Moulvibazar district is 2 lakh 5 thousand 24 people. But in reality its number is several times higher. Millions of expatriates visit this country every year. They use Dhaka and Sylhet airports. Starting flights at Shamsernagar Airport has been a long-standing demand of expatriates from various countries including Europe, USA, Japan, Australia, Canada and the Middle East.

Mohammed Mubin Khan, an expatriate from Spain, said, "If the airport opens, it will be the most convenient for us. We come home regularly. On the one hand it takes a long time to come from Europe to Bangladesh, on the other hand it takes a lot of trouble to come from Dhaka to Moulvibazar. If the Shamsernagar airport becomes operational, we will benefit the most. Besides, the government can also collect revenue from here.

Niaz Ahmed Naeem, a student of Washington University, said, I came to the country a few days ago. I could not get out of the parking lot of Dhaka airport for an hour and a half, there was so much traffic. If there was a chance I would have reached my district by domestic flight, would have saved a lot of time. I saw in USA, they have an airport in almost every village. The condition of our roads, it takes six hours to travel a two-hour road. If the Shamsernagar airport was opened, our travel would have been easier.

Abdul Muhaimin, Vice President of British-Bangla Chamber of Commerce, said that the opening of Shamsernagar Airport has been a long-standing demand. This is especially important for those of us who are involved in business in the UK. As it will save time, our area will also improve.

The tourism industry will change
Moulvibazar is a beautiful land of natural beauty. There are hundreds of tourist centers including Lauachhara, Madhavakunda, Madhavpur Lake, Hakaluki, Hamham Baikka Bill in this district. Which are constantly crowded with tourists. If the Shamsernagar airport is opened, the number of tourists will increase several times, new five-star quality hotels and resorts will be built.

Arman Khan, GM of Grand Sultan Tea Resort and Golf, said that if the Shamsernagar airport is opened, new opportunities will be created in the tourism industry in Moulvibazar district. Since the government has taken the initiative, I hope it will be implemented. If implemented, the number of domestic tourists as well as foreign tourists will increase.

A long wait
Khaled Chowdhury, the president of the combined social organization, said that all the social organizations of Moulvibazar have been demanding for the operation of the Shamsernagar airport for a long time. Moulvibazar is a district inhabited by expatriates. Expatriates want to reach their locality smoothly. For this, the Shamsernagar airport needs to be operational.

Ahmed Bilal, the owner of Nibras International Travels, said that when the Hajj season comes, the pilgrims have to travel a lot by road to catch a flight. If there was a domestic flight to Dhaka then pilgrims could easily reach Dhaka. Moreover, there are many big businessmen of the Middle East whose houses are in Moulvibazar. They also want this airport in their area to open soon.

Nurul Hasnat Raihan, manager of World Wide Education, said, "If Shamsernagar Airport opens, we will benefit a lot. Some of our students who get visas at the very deadline. As a result, they have to go in less time. At that time it is seen that tickets from Sylhet to Dhaka or from Dhaka to United Kingdom and United States are not available on time. It takes five to six hours by road. So our demand is to open the airport at least for domestic traffic.

Residents of several districts will benefit
The neighboring districts of Moulvibazar are Sylhet, Sunamganj and Habiganj. If Shamsernagar airport is opened, residents of Sylhet and Sunamganj upazilas including 7 upazilas of Moulvibazar, 9 upazilas of Habiganj will be able to take air service.

Shaistaganj of Habiganj district is 57 km, Madhavpur 87 km, Chunarughat 60 km, Lakhai 81 km, Bahubal 55 km, Habiganj Sadar 70 km from Shamsernagar airport. Where Sylhet airport is 130 to 65 kilometers from those upazilas. And the distance of seven upazilas of Moulvibazar district is not more than 40 km. Therefore, Shamsernagar is in close proximity to the people of these 13 upazilas. Besides, Shamsernagar has rail connections to the whole country. Due to which Shamsernagar Airport will become the hub of air traffic for the people of other neighboring districts.

Microbus manager Bachchu Mia said, the airport has been a long-standing demand of the people of our area. Our passenger numbers will increase once it becomes operational. It will benefit us a lot.

Moulvibazar District Minibus Owners Group and Sramik League district president Asad Hossain Makka told Dhaka Post that if Shamsernagar Airport opens, employment will be created for workers. Owners can drop new cars on that road. Its introduction has been a long-standing demand.

Businessmen will be interested in investment
Moulvibazar is called 'Land of the Tea'. There are 92 tea gardens in the district. The top businessmen of the country own these tea gardens. Due to the lack of good transport system, the owners suffer a lot in the management of tea gardens. Traders from other parts of the country are unable to participate in the Srimangal tea auction due to the lack of transportation.

Director of Srimangal Tea Auction Center Helal Ahmed said, it is very difficult for traders from Chittagong or other areas to come to Srimangal Tea Auction Center. Due to which many cannot participate. There are not enough tickets available in the train either. Again it takes more time. Tea industry will benefit the most if air service is introduced.

GM Shibli, chairman of Sylhet division of Bangladeshi Tea Association, said that if the Shamsernagar airport is opened, it will be most beneficial for the tea industry. Tea people can increase the production by managing the garden in less time.

President of the Moulvibazar Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Kamal Hossain said, those who are related to working people, traders and economy have to work fast. India has set up 39 airports in a few days to improve its connectivity. The government has taken initiatives to improve every place, be it air, train or road. People left the launch and came to the streets. Now you will see that you will not be able to go to many places at the right time even with a car on the road. Infrastructure work is being done at our closed airports. And it can be launched only after some renovation. Opening of these airports is the need of the hour. Once our Shamsernagar airport is operational, the cargo will arrive here after a few days. Through cargo flights, we can deliver our tea leaves, fresh water fish to any part of the world in the fastest time.

Airlines interested in starting flights
General Manager (Public Relations) of the private company US-Bangla Airlines Kamrul Islam said, the opening of an airport means that the area will be economically prosperous. Besides, the communication system of people will improve. You can reach your destination quickly. We have plans to resume flights once all closed airports are operational. Sylhet-Moulvibazar area is an area inhabited by European and London expatriates. The demand is not being met there only with Sylhet airport. We will make special plans in that regard as well.

NovoAir's Head of Marketing Michbah Ul Islam said that not only Shamsernagar, but all the closed airports in the country, NovoAir will operate flights only when it opens.

Moulvibazar Deputy Commissioner Mir Nahid Ahsan said that no official documents have come yet regarding the opening of Shamsernagar Airport. If implemented, this district will go a long way. Besides, the airport is very much needed in this expatriate-dominated area.

Member of Parliament of Moulvibazar-4 Constituency Abdus Shahid said that expatriates will be able to return home quickly if the Shamsernagar airport is opened. Especially the residents of Habiganj, Sylhet and Moulvibazar will benefit the most. I have made several demands in this regard in Parliament. All in all, it is important to open the airport. However, there are some technical issues to be aware of.

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