Reopen Saidpur-Dhaka air route to boost trade
Businesses in northern districts demand
Business circles in greater Rangpur and Dinajpur have demanded reopening Saidpur-Dhaka air route to boost investment in the area, particularly in the Uttara Export Processing Zone in Nilphamari.
There are around Tk 1,400 crore local and foreign investment proposals in the EPZ, but the investors are shy because of lack of regular and quick communication between the industrial area and the capital and gas supply, top officials of the EPZ told this correspondent recently.
At least 30 big husiness houses are eager to invest in the EPZ but they are not coming forth due to the problems, they said.
The officials said the investors are interested because of lower rent and other charges in the EPZ and availability of cheap labour in the area. Investments in the EPZ could easily create at least 50,000 jobs in the monga prone area, they said.
They said they appealed to the authorities for resumption of the air link as soon as possible.
Similar appeal was also made by Syedpur Traders Association, sources said.
Besides investments in the EPZ, the air route would boost businesses through Burimari, Banglabandha and Hili land ports.
Situated halfway between Rangpur and Dinajpur, Saidpur airport is within a short distance from Nilpahmari EPZ, Boropukuria coalmine and Madhyapara hard rock project in Dianjpur, tea gardens in Panchagarh, Teesta Barrage at Dalia and Saidpur railway workshop.
Tourist spots like Kantoji temple, Dinajpur museum and Tentulia tea garden's magnificent landscape are also in the area airport.
Bangladesh Biman authorities stopped service on the route on February 19 this year on the ground of loss due to shortage of passengers.
President of Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sohel Parvez told this correspondent that chambers of eight northern districts in greater Rangpur and Dinajpur including Nilphamari sent letters to the ministry concerned to reopen the air route.
They also sought intervention of high-ups in the government in this regard.
Businessmen doing export-import through Burimari, Banglabandha and Hili land ports like to use Saidpur-Dhaka air route for a safe, quick and comfortable journey, said Shamsuzzaman Shamu, president of Exporters and Importers Association of Greater Rangpur and Dinajpur.
Saidpur Airport Manager Sadhon Kumar Mohonta told this correspondent that an executive of Hong Kong-based Uttara Sweater Manufacturing Company at Uttara EPZ recently told him that their foreign buyers are unwilling to come to the EPZ due to absence air route.
Druk, national airline of Bhutan, and Air India during their operation on Dhaka-Thimphu and Kolkata-Kunch Bihar routes, used the VOR (very high frequency omnidirectional range) signal system of Saidpur airport, he said. Nineteen officials and employees are idle at the airport now, the manager said.
Earlier, F-28 and ATP planes flew seven days a week on the route with full capacity. After opening of Jamuna bridge, Biman's flight frequency was gradually reduced and finally suspended on February 19.
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