Readers Respond
Here are some comments that came in response to Wednesday's The Daily Star news analysis headlined 'New airport not required'.
Mohammad Rahman
Yes, upgrade the existing airport and provide all modern facilities for travellers. Faqrul, USA
The most damaging reports for the government are -- not allowing discussions on the new airport at the Jatiya Sangsad and continuous police action, with heavy-handed politics and legacy in mind, without any effort to find reasons for such mass protests. The nation deserves a statement from the honourable prime minister on this issue in the Jatiya Sangsad followed by discussion and debate open to all lawmakers irrespective of party affiliation. This is a testing time for the lawmakers to prove their understanding of the situation and the decision making process of the government. Manzoor Ashraf
Main reason for a new airport should be based on the fact that the current airport is far too close to Dhaka, which is not good for safety and noise. Saif
Talk to anyone on the streets and almost all will say that this airport is not required. But do our politicians care about this? Kamal Rashid
The government should forget about constructing a new airport and divert the fund towards increasing facilities to fulfill other basic needs like electricity, gas, drinking water, roads and highways. Md Shafiqul I Bhuiyan
Excellent report. I fully agree with the comments made by experts. Of course, our ministers are better experts than the people in the news. Abul Kashem
Thanks to the reporter. If this is the case, then why waste peoples' money and land? Why is the government so eager to build a new airport ignoring all negative sides and valid reasons not to proceed with this huge wastage? People, who advise the authority to go for this unreasonable project, cannot be considered as well wishers of the government. Sohel Ahmed
House keeping and management outside the present airport is in horrendous state. The amount the government is willing to spend is nothing but wastage of money as our economic backbone is dependent on delivering cheap labour in the form of export to the Middle Eastern countries or in the form of garment manufacturing. We do not have a solid tourism industry nor does Dhaka stand tall amongst the top 10 cities of the world where people from aboard will come on business purpose as they do in Singapore and spend a few nights for shopping or spending a quality time. The money, which the government is willing to spend for this new airport, can be spent making new roads, generating power and increasing food production. Dhaka Cantonment and BGB Headquarters in the heart of the city need to be relocated preferably at Trishal. A new terminal building could be built on the western part of the present airport and the present terminal buildings could be used as domestic and cargo-handling units. This airport already has the required space for the second runway on the western side and as far as the length is concerned, the government can easily relocate affected property owners. Similarly those affected during construction of new roads can easily be relocated in the cantonment and BGB Headquarters, which now occupy a huge area of the city and adding to the accommodation problem and traffic congestion every day. Dr Mayeen
We understood that by building a new and larger airport would provide the opportunity for corruption on a larger scale. However, I humbly request the government to please spend the projected money to develop rail communication throughout the whole country. We eagerly need good railways, not an airport, right now. Once we have a good transport system, price hike of daily commodities could possibly be easily controlled. Please initiate only the project that comes to the benefit of the people. Dr Mosiul Hoque
Following points need to be considered for the interest of the people. Rename the present international airport to Mujib International Airport. I believe people will not come down on the streets against this. By doing so, we can save Tk 50,000 crore and keep the environment, biodiversity and ecology healthy. Syed
I have travelled extensively and worked for airlines too. Dhaka's international airport is under-utilised. Any arriving passenger can tell, you do not need a think tank to ascertain this fact. Now for the sake of a name game, you want to setup an airport. The government must stop acting like this. A day will come when these political parties are going to be accounted for all the misdeeds they have done over the years. Let the people of Ariel Beel go about living their lives, name the current airport after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and get on with the required expansion.
Yes, upgrade the existing airport and provide all modern facilities for travellers. Faqrul, USA
The most damaging reports for the government are -- not allowing discussions on the new airport at the Jatiya Sangsad and continuous police action, with heavy-handed politics and legacy in mind, without any effort to find reasons for such mass protests. The nation deserves a statement from the honourable prime minister on this issue in the Jatiya Sangsad followed by discussion and debate open to all lawmakers irrespective of party affiliation. This is a testing time for the lawmakers to prove their understanding of the situation and the decision making process of the government. Manzoor Ashraf
Main reason for a new airport should be based on the fact that the current airport is far too close to Dhaka, which is not good for safety and noise. Saif
Talk to anyone on the streets and almost all will say that this airport is not required. But do our politicians care about this? Kamal Rashid
The government should forget about constructing a new airport and divert the fund towards increasing facilities to fulfill other basic needs like electricity, gas, drinking water, roads and highways. Md Shafiqul I Bhuiyan
Excellent report. I fully agree with the comments made by experts. Of course, our ministers are better experts than the people in the news. Abul Kashem
Thanks to the reporter. If this is the case, then why waste peoples' money and land? Why is the government so eager to build a new airport ignoring all negative sides and valid reasons not to proceed with this huge wastage? People, who advise the authority to go for this unreasonable project, cannot be considered as well wishers of the government. Sohel Ahmed
House keeping and management outside the present airport is in horrendous state. The amount the government is willing to spend is nothing but wastage of money as our economic backbone is dependent on delivering cheap labour in the form of export to the Middle Eastern countries or in the form of garment manufacturing. We do not have a solid tourism industry nor does Dhaka stand tall amongst the top 10 cities of the world where people from aboard will come on business purpose as they do in Singapore and spend a few nights for shopping or spending a quality time. The money, which the government is willing to spend for this new airport, can be spent making new roads, generating power and increasing food production. Dhaka Cantonment and BGB Headquarters in the heart of the city need to be relocated preferably at Trishal. A new terminal building could be built on the western part of the present airport and the present terminal buildings could be used as domestic and cargo-handling units. This airport already has the required space for the second runway on the western side and as far as the length is concerned, the government can easily relocate affected property owners. Similarly those affected during construction of new roads can easily be relocated in the cantonment and BGB Headquarters, which now occupy a huge area of the city and adding to the accommodation problem and traffic congestion every day. Dr Mayeen
We understood that by building a new and larger airport would provide the opportunity for corruption on a larger scale. However, I humbly request the government to please spend the projected money to develop rail communication throughout the whole country. We eagerly need good railways, not an airport, right now. Once we have a good transport system, price hike of daily commodities could possibly be easily controlled. Please initiate only the project that comes to the benefit of the people. Dr Mosiul Hoque
Following points need to be considered for the interest of the people. Rename the present international airport to Mujib International Airport. I believe people will not come down on the streets against this. By doing so, we can save Tk 50,000 crore and keep the environment, biodiversity and ecology healthy. Syed
I have travelled extensively and worked for airlines too. Dhaka's international airport is under-utilised. Any arriving passenger can tell, you do not need a think tank to ascertain this fact. Now for the sake of a name game, you want to setup an airport. The government must stop acting like this. A day will come when these political parties are going to be accounted for all the misdeeds they have done over the years. Let the people of Ariel Beel go about living their lives, name the current airport after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and get on with the required expansion.
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