PM Hasina wants Bangladesh to be centre of world communications

[Black_cats]

PM Hasina wants Bangladesh to be centre of world communications

BANGLADESH
BSS
29 August, 2021, 12:35 pm
Last modified: 29 August, 2021, 03:30 pm

She virtually opened the expansion work of the country’s longest runway from her official Ganabhaban residence this morning

Photo/PID

Photo/PID

Hoping that the Cox's Bazar airport would be the world's most attractive place for refueling, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government wants to turn Bangladesh into the centre of communications for the entire world.

"We want to make Bangladesh as the centre of communications for the entire world capitalizing its geographical position," she said while inaugurating expansion work of the Cox's Bazar Airport runway.

She virtually opened the expansion work of the country's longest runway from her official Ganabhaban residence this morning.

Photo/PID

Sheikh Hasina said the runway would have to be developed in such a way that the world's largest planes could land at the airport easily and quickly for refueling.

The Prime Minister said, "I believe that, after completing expansion work of the runway, the Cox's Bazar Airport will be the most comfortable place for the planes travelling from the East to West or the West to East. "

Stating that separate places have been being important at different times, she said, "Once upon a time Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok were important while Dubai is currently considered as an important place".

In this regard, she also hoped that Cox's Bazar would be the next most important place for the entire world.

A video documentary regarding activities for development of the civil aviation sector by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and her elder daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the function.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali and its Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain spoke on the occasion while Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman gave the welcome address joining virtually the function from the Cox's Bazar Airport end.

Photo/PID

Photo/PID
Cabinet members, local lawmakers, public representatives, political leaders and government officials were present at the airport.

PM's Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, PMO (Prime Minister's Office) Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah and PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim were present at the Ganabhaban end.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has wanted to turn Cox's Bazar into one of the most modern cities having all the facilities to attract more tourists, especially foreigners as they could enjoy Bangladesh the most.

"We have a lot of plans (regarding overall development of Bangladesh) while it is more about Cox's Bazar. We will develop Cox's Bazar in such a way as it becomes the world's best sea beach and tourist spot and the most modern city," she added.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh for the first time is going to expand the runway of Cox's Bazar Airport reclaiming land from the sea using modern equipment.

Extending greetings to those who took the initiative of expanding runway by reclaiming land from the sea facing protest of environment activists, she said the runway would be eye-catching and many people would throng Cox's Bazar only to see it.

The runway would be upgraded to 10,700 feet from the existing 9000 upon completion of its work, she said, hoping that the work would be completed in due time.

The Premier mentioned that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had said Bangladesh could make a bridge between the East and West considering its geographical location.

In this connection, she said, "International air routes have passed over Bangladesh especially over the Cox's Bazar."

The Prime Minister said that Cox's Bazar was one of the most favorite places of Bangabandhu and used to take all of his family members there every winter while he was out of jail.

Sheikh Hasina said that her government has a plan to transform the Sonadia Deep into an eco-park protecting the natural beauty and sea-species alongside developing the Shahparir Deep, Saint Martin Island and Maheshkhali Deep to make Cox's Bazar as one the most attractive tourist places.

As part of the move, the government is constructing a marine drive from Cox's Bazar to Teknaf and a rail line from Chattogram to Cox's Bazar, she also said.

The Prime Minister said they are planning to build a designated place in the Cox's Bazar for only the foreigners as they can enjoy their moments.

She said her government has tried to introduce Biman to other international routes alongside the existing ones, adding that Bangladesh had dream liners to operate on the routes of New York, Toronto and Sydney.

The Prime Minister said it would not be wise to only depend on the West rather have to focus on South Asia and Southeast Asia which will help increase the volume of commerce and businesses.

Mentioning that the government has been developing all the airports, she said they are upgrading Syedpur Airport as the regional airport so India, Bhutan and Nepal can use it.

She added that many states of India including Meghalaya and Assam can use the Sylhet international airport while Indian state Tripura can use the Chattogram international airport.

The Premier said they have added 16 ultra modern aircrafts such as four Boeing-777, two Boeing-737, four Boeing-787-8, two Boeing-789-9 and four Dash-8 to the Biman fleets in the last twelve and a half year.

Stating the repentant situation of the Biman in the past (during Zia, Khaleda and Ershad governments), she said that once upon a time, water leaked to the plane and there were no arrangements of entertainment in the Biman.

She said Bangladesh had achieved membership of the International Civil Aviation on September 21 in 1973 under the dynamic leadership of the Father of the Nation, adding that Bangladesh signed bilateral agreements with the Netherlands, Afghanistan, Russia and Yugoslavia.

The Prime Minister said Bangabandhu made Bangladesh a least developed country in his only three and a half year in power by facing numerous hurdles while the post 1975 governments did nothing for the development of the country as they did not believe the independence of the country.

She reiterated her commitments of building a Sonar Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty as envisioned by the Father of the Nation.

PM wants Bangladesh to be centre of world communications

She virtually opened the expansion work of the country’s longest runway from her official Ganabhaban residence this morning

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Saiful Islam]

Centre of laughing stock

 

[El Sidd]

She is learning Urdu again.

 

[fallstuff]

it just maybe possible being a regional hub, but anything bigger is just a pipe dream. I don't see Dhaka airport ever reaching the scale of operation as in Dubai in the foreseeable future.

 

[Bilal9]

it just maybe possible being a regional hub, but anything bigger is just a pipe dream. I don't see Dhaka airport ever reaching the scale of operation as in Dubai in the foreseeable future.

Dhaka will never become either Dubai or Singapore.

However I will be very happy if the facilities at least become as good as any South Asian airport, control and chaos wise.

How can the airport become a den of shysters and cheaters (and unscrupulous taxicab drivers), as soon as you exit the airport? RAB and CAAB aren't clearly doing their jobs. Long way to go.

 

[FuturePAF]

The reason it will be hard is the Himalayas. The routes may not be ideal for the shortest long range flight, and therefore people traveling from Sydney to London, would probably go via the Gulf rather then Bangladesh, because of the longer flight time.

 

[HttpError]

Thanks for the laugh.

 

[UKBengali]

It is easy to mock Hasina but at least she gets things done.

Lots of people laughed when she said she will build Padma Bridge by BD's own funds - it is almost done.

Lots of people thought BD could never had higher economic growth than either India or Vietnam - it got done.

Lots of people thought BD will never be able to have a nuclear power station - it is almost done as well.

BD'shis should be satisfied if 50% of what she says gets achieved. BD is on a growth and development momentum now and we will see things progressing faster and faster as the country is reaching critical mass in many sectors.

 

[Bilal9]

The reason it will be hard is the Himalayas.

Most populated areas in East Asia and China are East of Bangladesh and have great air connectivity with us, Case in point is Kunming which is actually as close or closer than Bangkok. Kunming has multiple flights a day connecting Dhaka. Only Chinese city in the North (over the Himalayan Hump) is Lhasa. That is not of interest to most people connecting at Dhaka.

 

[FuturePAF]

Most populated areas in East Asia and China are East of Bangladesh and have great air connectivity with us, Case in point is Kunming which is actually as close or closer than Bangkok. Kunming has multiple flights a day connecting Dhaka. Only Chinese city in the North (over the Himalayan Hump) is Lhasa. That is not of interest to most people connecting at Dhaka.

I was referring to long range flights to places where the majority of the diaspora live, outside of the gulf.

Eirher way, any infrastructure is an improvement, as long as it helps the people using it (at a reasonable price) is built is a good thing.

 

[Bilal9]

It is easy to mock Hasina but at least she gets things done.

Lots of people laughed when she said she will build Padma Bridge by BD's own funds - it is almost done.

Lots of people thought BD could never had higher economic growth than either India or Vietnam - it got done.

Lots of people thought BD will never be able to have a nuclear power station - it is almost done as well.

BD'shis should be satisfied if 50% of what she says gets achieved. BD is on a growth and development momentum now and we will see things progressing faster and faster as the country is reaching critical mass in many sectors.

I get that she got things done, but saying that Bangladesh will be centre of world communications is faaltu talk that diminishes her credibility,

It might sound delicious to her uneducated clueless low-life party goondas, but you have to have certain basis behind what you say. Where are the plans, and specifics on how we will have superior connectivity with the outside world? She doesn't have anything.

Our airports even today suck (improvements are happening, I admit) and we cannot even remove petty store owners encroaching on public property like major roads like Dhaka-Tongi Highway. you don't see this $hit even in India.

Reason is her itorer baccha party goondas (elakar boro bhai) making side-money from letting public-land encroachers (storing sand, rod, vehicles, garbage) and poster-fiends dirty up even our capital city under their 'protection' and making it look like dirty Bangladesh all over....we have a long way to go to become civilized.

I was referring to long range flights to places where the majority of the diaspora live, outside of the gulf.

Eirher way, any infrastructure ire improvement, as long as it helps the people using it (at a reasonable price) is built is a good thing.

Bangladesh Biman once operated non-stop flights from Dhaka to Toronto (and maybe to NYC too, if I recall correctly). It is possible.

However, stopping in either Dubai or Rome (Fiumicino) on the way to London or Manchester is more advantageous to diaspora connecting to Dhaka and for filling seats. At the end of the day, empty seats help no airline make money.

I don't know if Biman still operates flights to North America meaning East Coast.

 

[UKBengali]

I get that she got things done, but saying that Bangladesh will be centre of world communications is faaltu talk that diminishes her credibility,

It might sound delicious to her uneducated clueless low-life party goondas, but you have to have certain basis behind what you say. Where are the plans, and specifics on how we will have superior connectivity with the outside world? She doesn't have anything.

Our airports even today suck (improvements are happening, I admit) and we cannot even remove petty store owners encroaching on public property like major roads like Dhaka-Tongi Highway. you don't see this $hit even in India.

Reason is her itorer baccha party goondas (elakar boro bhai) making side-money from letting public-land encroachers (storing sand, rod, vehicles, garbage) and poster-fiends dirty up even our capital city under their 'protection' and making it look like dirty Bangladesh all over....we have a long way to go to become civilized.

I agree with this ambition of hers is too much at this stage but it at least puts it out there.

BD is progressing little by little and what may seem impossible now may not seem so 10-20 years down the line.

Hasina like every other politician needs to play politics and tell her party faithful what they like to hear from time time and so best not to take these speeches too seriously.

 

[mb444]

I am an optimist and dreaming big in my opinion is a good thing. If we achieve a 50% of what is envisioned it is progress.

Every journey needs the first step. If coxs bazar can be developed to put it in the international tourist map i would be a fantastic revenue earner.

To those saying BD can not be a dubai, yes it can not. Dubai had petro dollars, they bought huge amounts of jets and literally made themselves a hub by operating at a loss for a decade. It is something they have still not got over. We do not have such money. But we can still make us a regional hub. Biman and BD private airlines are the key to this alongside tourism and infastructure.

In sha allah BD progress is now unstoppable.

 

[MH.Yang]

I don't know why some Bangladeshis don't like Hasina. But I think she is an excellent prime minister. She led the Bangladeshi people to great success. She is Merkel of South Asia and Indira of Bangladesh.

 

[Species]

Cox's Bazar indeed has a strategic location, it was one of the key airbases for the allied forces in the Asian theatre of WWII.

However, being the "center of world" requires huge efforts, you would need a capacity of around 100million passengers to get to that and Cox's Bazar is nowhere near.