A new air traffic management center has been officially inaugurated today at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) by the Civil Aviation and Tourism minister Afroza Khanam, which stakeholders view as a new step towards becoming a regional aviation hub.

During the inauguration program, the minister said that they have inaugurated an ultramodern and automatic air traffic management system proudly--which will make the airspace safer, skillful and develop standard internationally.  

Mentioning the contribution of martyr president Ziaur Rahman, she said, “He (Ziaur Rahman) laid the foundation of the aviation sector of Bangladesh by installing new international airport in Dhaka’s Kurmitola in 1980.

Noting that the government is always ready to extend any form of cooperation, the minister further added, “We aim to transform HSIA into a global aviation hub. With the cooperation of you all, that goal of ours will be realized-Insha’Allah.”

In his address as the special guest, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat stated, “I believe that this new air traffic management system will create significant opportunities for regional cooperation through the integrated management of airspace spanning a range of 350 nautical miles.”

Also present at the event were the French Ambassador to Bangladesh, H.E Mr. Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Fahmida Akhter, NDC; the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, Air Vice Marshal Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq; and the Vice President of Thales, Nicolas Bouverot along with senior officials from the Ministry.