Commercial flights promised for July 2025 remain absent as TK 10 crore runway renovation concludes, yet missing terminal and safety infrastructure keeps Bogra’s airport non-operational.

Bogra’s long-awaited commercial airport remains non-operational despite an interim government announcement that passenger flights would commence from July 2025. Authorities have completed renovation work on the runway, taxiway, and terminal using a government allocation of TK 10 crore, but critical infrastructure gaps continue to stall operations.

Officials confirm the airport still lacks a modern passenger terminal, control tower, fire and rescue facilities, along with essential customs and immigration setup. Without these components, the facility cannot support full-scale commercial flight operations.

Plans to implement the project in three phases remain unresolved. The total project, estimated at around TK 1200 crore, has yet to receive final approval from the Ministry of Finance. Ministry clearance remains pending, resulting in no visible progress on the ground.

For the first phase, authorities plan to extend the runway to 6,000 feet, requiring approximately 100 acres of land at an estimated cost of TK 25 crore. A subsequent expansion to 10,000 feet would demand an additional 300 acres. Both land acquisition and funding constraints have stalled progress.

Local business leaders and civil society representatives have stepped up demands for swift operationalisation. They told media, “In trade and commerce, lack of connectivity prevents many things from happening in Bogra. An airport here will benefit business and tourists alike.”

Another local resident added, “No government development has happened here. Whatever we have achieved, local people and businessmen have done it themselves.”

District commissioner Toufiqur Rahman offered routine assurances, while State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam recently visited Bogra and pledged quick action.

Shahe Alam said, “We have discussed how the airport can be implemented as quickly as possible, and we have tried to understand how much progress has been made. Based on that progress, we will look into what needs to be done to carry it through to completion so that it is implemented, Inshallah.”

Toufiqur said, “We have formed a large committee. Once we receive its report, we will inform the ministry so that all available facilities can be developed for Bogra district. Work is ongoing. We have discussed implementation and will oversee necessary steps to complete it.”

Land acquisition for the airport began in 1995, with runway, office, and residential construction completed by 2000. In 2005, the facility was handed over to Bangladesh Air Force, which later established a flying instructor school there.