Air service from Saidpur to Nepal, Bhutan can promote trade, tourism

This would also be compatible with the SAARC spirit, its president Sohel Parvez said in a statement on Monday.

He urged the government to develop Saidpur airport to open the route.

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Saidpur's air distance is about 200 kms from Viratnagar and 195 kms from Paro.

Sohel said that the Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president during his two-day visit to Saidpur in 2002 showed keen interest in the opening route. He had visited the airport and the railway installations and noted that goods airlifted to Saidpur could be transported to Mongla and Chittagong ports at lesser costs than in other routes, Sohel recalled in the statement.

The Nepalese business leader also suggested modernisation of Saidpur airport, setting up of a warehouse and opening of container service.

The Uttara Export Processing Zone could also benefit from an air route, Sohel said.