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New airport not required
Aviation experts say, upgraded Shahjalal airport to meet demand for next 25 years. One fifth of estimated Tk 50,000cr for airport at Arial Beel is enough to cover the upgrade cost. (February 2, 2011) We have been telling for long that a new airport is not needed for Bangladesh. The reasons are the following: 1. Shahjalal Airport will serve purpose for several years. If upgraded, will cater to the needs for many years. 2. Land in Bangladesh should be used wisely and carefully. Bangladesh should think that it has huge population- 160 million people are living in an area of 54,000 square miles. Food production should be given priority. Use the land for food production. 3. If Bangladesh can spend Taka 50,000 now, it can spend that money to reduce poverty in the country. Why another airport?
Anonymous Why on earth govt. has become so proactive about an airport when energy crisis is far more important issue for the entire nation?
Shawkat Haider How govt becomes unpopular, this is one example, airport not required anymore in our country, why this initiative? PM not realizing? Please stop political jealousy, our country is going backward only for this reason.
Hussain There are 3 different stories on Arial Beel proposed airport. The most damaging reports for the government are 1. Not allowed to discuss the mega incident in the JS by the ruling party 2. The continuous police action in the areas without any effort to find out the reasons of such a popular opposition to the mega project and the heavy handed politics and prejudiced legacy in mind.
Faqrul Main case for a new airport should be based on the fact that the current airport is far too close to Dhaka that is not good for safety and noise. And removal of this airport would release much needed land for homes, parks and playing fields for the people of Dhaka.
Manzoor Ashraf Why all these news now? And who proposed for a new airport?
TH I would like to echo the question of Mr. Saidur Rahman -- why these experts opinion came so late? I personally tried to investigate these from different sources, but could not. If this is the reality then the government must forget about the new airport particularly in Arial beel. They should consider upgrading the Shahjalal Int'l Airport and utilize its full capacity.
Md. Sirajul Islam Molla Talk to anyone in the street and almost everyone will say that this airport is not required. But do our politicians care about this?
Saif The Govt. should forget the construction of a new Airport and divert the fund towards increasing facilities to fulfill other basic needs of the country like electricity, gas, drinking water roads and highways etc.
Kamal Rashid If we could upgrade Windows 95, we didn't have to go for Windows 7.
Nasim Incredible! A country with so many other needs and very limited land proposes to build a new airport without exploring the expansion of the underutilized airport they have. I am not an economist but is this 'development,' most urgently needed? Also, who will pay for it?
Ahmed Badruzzaman Excellent report and I fully agree with the comments made by experts. Of course our Ministers are better experts than the persons in the news. Finally it's a matter of a work of 10 Trillion Taka! Who can forget?
Md. Shafiqul I Bhuiyan Absolutely! Fully agreed.
Socrates Thanks to the reporter. If this is the case, then why the wastage of peoples' money and land? Why the government is so lured to build a new airport ignoring all these negative sides of viabilities, and valid reasons not to proceed with this huge wastage? The people behind the plot, who advise the authority to go for this unreasonable project, can not be considered as well wishers of the government.
Abul Kashem Please construct roads rather than this kind of project. Think the reality, feel the poor peoples suffering. It is unthinkable in this civilized world.
Anno I agree with what the aviation experts said.
Rakib Ahmed Shahjalal Airport is staggering with the present airlines and passengers, even though Dhaka is not an important hub like Dubai Airport or Heathrow, building a second airport is meaningless, thus wasting precious foreign exchange, we immediately need a solution to the relentless power outages, water supply problem, energy crisis, and building roads, flyovers etc.
Stanford Pereira Are we able to understand why a new airport costing over Tk.50, 000 crore has been planned while not even 30-40% capacity of the existing airports is utilized
Ashley No doubt that Shahjalal Airport should be improved! Arial beel should be used if it has any economical impact or after next 5 years Govt. should think about it without hampering public life.
Afreen
Aviation experts say, upgraded Shahjalal airport to meet demand for next 25 years. One fifth of estimated Tk 50,000cr for airport at Arial Beel is enough to cover the upgrade cost. (February 2, 2011) We have been telling for long that a new airport is not needed for Bangladesh. The reasons are the following: 1. Shahjalal Airport will serve purpose for several years. If upgraded, will cater to the needs for many years. 2. Land in Bangladesh should be used wisely and carefully. Bangladesh should think that it has huge population- 160 million people are living in an area of 54,000 square miles. Food production should be given priority. Use the land for food production. 3. If Bangladesh can spend Taka 50,000 now, it can spend that money to reduce poverty in the country. Why another airport?
Anonymous Why on earth govt. has become so proactive about an airport when energy crisis is far more important issue for the entire nation?
Shawkat Haider How govt becomes unpopular, this is one example, airport not required anymore in our country, why this initiative? PM not realizing? Please stop political jealousy, our country is going backward only for this reason.
Hussain There are 3 different stories on Arial Beel proposed airport. The most damaging reports for the government are 1. Not allowed to discuss the mega incident in the JS by the ruling party 2. The continuous police action in the areas without any effort to find out the reasons of such a popular opposition to the mega project and the heavy handed politics and prejudiced legacy in mind.
Faqrul Main case for a new airport should be based on the fact that the current airport is far too close to Dhaka that is not good for safety and noise. And removal of this airport would release much needed land for homes, parks and playing fields for the people of Dhaka.
Manzoor Ashraf Why all these news now? And who proposed for a new airport?
TH I would like to echo the question of Mr. Saidur Rahman -- why these experts opinion came so late? I personally tried to investigate these from different sources, but could not. If this is the reality then the government must forget about the new airport particularly in Arial beel. They should consider upgrading the Shahjalal Int'l Airport and utilize its full capacity.
Md. Sirajul Islam Molla Talk to anyone in the street and almost everyone will say that this airport is not required. But do our politicians care about this?
Saif The Govt. should forget the construction of a new Airport and divert the fund towards increasing facilities to fulfill other basic needs of the country like electricity, gas, drinking water roads and highways etc.
Kamal Rashid If we could upgrade Windows 95, we didn't have to go for Windows 7.
Nasim Incredible! A country with so many other needs and very limited land proposes to build a new airport without exploring the expansion of the underutilized airport they have. I am not an economist but is this 'development,' most urgently needed? Also, who will pay for it?
Ahmed Badruzzaman Excellent report and I fully agree with the comments made by experts. Of course our Ministers are better experts than the persons in the news. Finally it's a matter of a work of 10 Trillion Taka! Who can forget?
Md. Shafiqul I Bhuiyan Absolutely! Fully agreed.
Socrates Thanks to the reporter. If this is the case, then why the wastage of peoples' money and land? Why the government is so lured to build a new airport ignoring all these negative sides of viabilities, and valid reasons not to proceed with this huge wastage? The people behind the plot, who advise the authority to go for this unreasonable project, can not be considered as well wishers of the government.
Abul Kashem Please construct roads rather than this kind of project. Think the reality, feel the poor peoples suffering. It is unthinkable in this civilized world.
Anno I agree with what the aviation experts said.
Rakib Ahmed Shahjalal Airport is staggering with the present airlines and passengers, even though Dhaka is not an important hub like Dubai Airport or Heathrow, building a second airport is meaningless, thus wasting precious foreign exchange, we immediately need a solution to the relentless power outages, water supply problem, energy crisis, and building roads, flyovers etc.
Stanford Pereira Are we able to understand why a new airport costing over Tk.50, 000 crore has been planned while not even 30-40% capacity of the existing airports is utilized
Ashley No doubt that Shahjalal Airport should be improved! Arial beel should be used if it has any economical impact or after next 5 years Govt. should think about it without hampering public life.
Afreen
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