After more than a decade of dormancy, the government has moved to reopen Ishwardi Airport in Pabna, aiming to ease connectivity for mega projects like Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Authorities target full readiness for domestic passenger and cargo flights by 2030.

Plans are underway to bring Ishwardi Airport back into operation after over 12 years of closure, with authorities targeting 2030 for full readiness to handle domestic passenger and cargo flights.

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has taken the initiative to revive the long-abandoned airstrip, aiming to ease connectivity for several mega projects, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and Ishwardi EPZ.

Originally constructed during World War II, the airport first saw regular flights to Dhaka in 1989 through Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Operations resumed briefly in 2013 with private carrier United Airways, but services stopped within a year. Since then, the facility has remained unused for nearly a decade.

Currently, the airport spans 145.91 acres, a significant reduction from the originally acquired 436.65 acres. Infrastructure includes a 4,700-foot runway, terminal building, VIP lounge, waiting areas, and residential quarters for officers, but prolonged neglect has rendered most facilities unusable. Officials say the runway must be extended to 6,000 feet to accommodate commercial flights. Additional requirements include construction of a new terminal building, modern fire service facilities, and recruitment of adequate manpower.

Location offers strategic advantages. Just 13 kilometres away sits the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, where over 10 thousand Russian nationals are currently working. The district also hosts five key government research institutions and benefits from agricultural output across vast tracts of Padma's char areas.

Officials believe airport reopening could transform connectivity for Pabna, Natore, and Kushtia regions. Road travel from these areas to Dhaka remains time-consuming and cumbersome, discouraging potential investment despite clear economic potential. Government plans position Ishwardi as the third domestic airport after Bogura and Thakurgaon to become fully operational by 2030.