A preparatory meeting of the district unit of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was held in northern Thakurgaon ahead of a possible announcement on the reopening of the long-defunct Thakurgaon Airport, BSS reports.

The meeting, chaired by Thakurgaon District BNP President Mirza Faisal Amin, took place at the party’s district office and was attended by General Secretary Poygam Ali, Joint General Secretary Shariful Islam Sharif, and leaders of affiliated organisations.

Party leaders at the meeting said BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is expected to visit Thakurgaon on May 20, accompanied by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita) and State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Milat.

They said Fakhrul would deliver “a new message” to the people of Thakurgaon during the visit.

A responsible source in the district BNP said a “historic announcement” regarding the opening of Thakurgaon Airport could be made on the occasion, though no official confirmation was immediately available.

Located in Shibganj area of Thakurgaon district, the airport was established in 1940 on around 550 acres and was previously used for government and military purposes.

Its runway suffered extensive damage during the 1965 Indo-Pak war following an attack by the Indian Air Force, according to historical accounts.

The airport was renovated in 1977, after which commercial flights operated for a limited period. Operations were eventually suspended in 1980 amid declining passenger numbers and lack of interest, and the facility has remained abandoned since then.