M, Naser Rahman, MP of Moulvibazar-3 constituency, has raised an urgent notice in the National Parliament demanding the establishment of a civil airport in Shamshernagar of Kamalganj Upazila to utilize the tourism potential of Moulvibazar district. The matter is included in the agenda of the meeting of the National Parliament held on Sunday.According to the agenda published by the Law Branch of the Legislative Support Wing of the Bangladesh National Parliament Secretariat, this notice has been given under Rule-71, drawing attention to matters of urgent public importance.The notice mentions that a small civil airport can be established using a part of the Air Force base located in Shamshernagar for the convenience of tourists in Moulvibazar district. The attention of the Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism will be drawn to this matter.The agenda states that the disposal of other notices received under Rule-71 and a discussion will be held on the notices received in the same meeting. The matter was confirmed in the agenda signed by Barrister Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan, Secretary of the National Parliament Secretariat.Locals have expressed their sincere congratulations and gratitude to Moulvibazar-3 constituency MP M. Naser Rahman for making an important speech on the regional and national interests of Moulvibazar, a tourist district, and the historic Shamshernagar Airport in Kamalganj Upazila. Locals said that M. Naser Rahman MP has brought forward the long-standing demands of the locals by presenting accurate information about the airport in the parliament.On the other hand, a few days ago, Moulvibazar-4 constituency Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury made a strong speech on the speedy opening of Shamshernagar Airport in the parliament session. Kamalganj residents also thanked and expressed their gratitude for this. Locals hope that this initiative of the two MPs will reopen Shamshernagar Airport, recover encroached land, and open new possibilities for the economic development of the area. Tourists and expatriates have been suffering for a long time due to the lack of an airport in Moulvibazar, a tourist district.
Taking part in the discussion in the parliament on Sunday.
M. Naser Rahman demanded that the runway under the control of the Air Force located in Shamshernagar of Kamalganj Upazila be made suitable for limited civilian use. According to him, it is necessary to open the airport to facilitate travel to various tourist areas including Srimangal, Lawachara, Madhabkundu, Hakaluki, Madhabpur Lake. He also said that although the infrastructure of this air base has been used since the Pakistan period, it has not been brought to civilian use after independence. This is harming the economic and tourism potential of the region.In response, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita told the parliament that Shamshernagar Air Base is currently under the control of the Air Force and several military installations and training activities are underway there. She said that a feasibility study is underway to verify the commercial usability of the airport.The minister also said that due to its location near the border and current infrastructural limitations, it is not suitable for passenger flights right now. However, the issue of tourism development is in the government's plans.
