Bangladesh to have more airports

Dhaka, July 15 : Bangladesh is to have more international and domestic airports to facilitate economic development and act as 'a bridge between the East and the West', Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said.

An international airport will be named after Hasina's father, slain leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led the country's freedom movement, she told parliament Wednesday.

This may set off another round of debate, political analysts said, as the principal airport on the outskirts of the national capital was earlier called Zia International Airport (ZIA), but was renamed last year after Sufi sage Hazarat Shah Jalal.

The government of Khaleda Zia, Hasina's political rival and the current opposition leader, had named ZIA after her husband, another freedom fighter and slain military strongman Ziaur Rahman.

Hasina said her government had adopted a plan to set up Bangabandhu International Airport as per the election manifesto of the ruling Awami League. She did not indicate location of the proposed international airport.

A committee formed for the purpose has already submitted its pre-feasibility study report.

The prime minister also said Cox's Bazar airport would be upgraded to an international standard by 2012.

Cox's Bazar, located in the southeastern region bordering Myanmar, is Bangladesh's major tourist attraction.

The government has also taken measures to set up a domestic airport at Rampal in Bagerhat district to aid the southern Mongla Port and the tourist spots of the area.