Saidpur Airport Set for International Upgrade, Poised to Transform Northern Connectivity and Economy

Nazir Hossain Nazu, from Saidpur, Nilphamari

Saidpur airport in Nilphamari district is going to become an international gateway. This will change the communication picture of the northern region. The long held hope of the people of the northern region to upgrade Saidpur airport to international standard has gained speed again.

The government plans to build this airport in Saidpur into an important centre of regional air traffic. Through this, air links with Nepal, Bhutan and the north eastern region of India may open up. New chances may also arise for business and tourism in the northern region.

The proposed budget for the 2026 to 2027 fiscal year also carries the plan to upgrade Saidpur airport as an international gateway. On behalf of the government, it has been said that, as part of its long term aviation plan, Saidpur, Rajshahi, Jashore and Cox’s Bazar airports will be built to suit international connections.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Saidpur airport is now a domestic airport. Domestic flights started here in 1979. Flights now run on the Dhaka route, and various development works, including expansion of the terminal and apron, are going on at the airport.

One of the biggest challenges in the plan to upgrade it to an international airport is runway expansion and land acquisition. According to the plan, the present 6,000 feet runway is to be raised to 12,000 feet. There is also a plan to acquire 912.90 acres of land around the airport.

In 2025, the CAAB chairman said Tk 5,500 crore may be needed for land acquisition and another Tk 5,000 crore for other infrastructure development. This means the whole plan may cost about Tk 10,000 crore. But it would not be correct to call it a Tk 10,000 crore project that has already been allocated or is being carried out. Financing and carrying out the plan are still at important stages.

The interest of neighbouring countries in making Saidpur a regional hub has also come up at various times. CAAB officials have said that after internationalisation, airlines from Nepal, Bhutan and India may get a chance to use Saidpur airport. New chances may arise especially for air links and goods transport with Nepal and Bhutan.

The possible benefits for the people of the northern region are also big. People of various districts of Rangpur division, and of Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh nearby, depend heavily on Dhaka for international travel now. If international flights start at Saidpur, the need to go to Dhaka to catch a flight may come down. Along with saving time and travel cost, communication may become easier for businessmen and expatriates of the northern region.

But we cannot yet give a guarantee that all kinds of suffering will end completely once international flights start. Along with improving airport infrastructure, the needed security, immigration, customs, commercial decisions of airlines and enough passenger demand are also important for running international flights.

Recent information says the plan to turn Saidpur airport into a centre of regional air traffic is real, and there are government steps to move its work forward. But several more important steps must be crossed before it can start work as a full international airport. So for the people of the northern region, Saidpur airport is not just an airport. It is seen as an important piece of infrastructure that can end the long standing communication crisis and open new chances for the economy and regional trade.