Govt to provide infrastructural support if private companies want to operate flights to Kuakata

The government will develop necessary infrastructure if private companies are interested in operating flights to Kuakata, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said.

He made the statement today (15 April) while responding to a supplementary question on the 14th day of the first session of the National Parliament.

During the session, Patuakhali-4 MP ABM Mosharraf Hossain highlighted the importance of Kuakata as a tourist destination, noting that the area has a naval base, a cantonment, and the nearby Payra Port. He said that establishing an airport there could help transform Kuakata into a more significant tourism hub and asked whether such a project could be undertaken.

In response, the PM said that flights by Biman Bangladesh Airlines from Dhaka to Kuakata could be operated. However, he said that if such operations incur losses, the cost would ultimately be borne by the public.

Therefore, from a business perspective, it may not be a viable option. He added that if any private company is interested in operating flights to Kuakata, the government will try to provide the necessary infrastructure to the extent possible.

The PM also said that any such initiative must be carried out following proper evaluation and feasibility checks, as the government does not want to incur losses nor does it want entrepreneurs to take up initiatives that ultimately fail.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also said the present government has a specific commitment to develop Bangladesh's tourism sector in a sustainable and planned manner.

The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry is working to formulate a "National Tourism Master Plan" to this end, he added.

In this connection, the prime minister informed the House that special emphasis is being given to preserving the natural beauty of Kuakata and developing the tourism sector under this master plan.