Bangladesh's second international airport, built with Japanese development funds in the port city of Chittagong, was opened Saturday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wasjed said at the opening ceremony that the opening of the airport would help turn Chittagong into the country's industrial hub.
The airport, earlier used for domestic and some regional flights, was upgraded at a cost of 6.41 billion taka (118.7 million dollars), with Japan providing 99 percent of the funds.
It can now handle international flights.
The airport has been named after a late veteran of the 1971 Bangladesh Independence War, M.A. Hannan. It will handle some 700,000 international and domestic passengers and 6,000 tonnes cargo annually, officials said.
In an attempt to draw foreign airlines to the aiport, the government has waived royalty fees and is promising cheaper fuel prices than at other regional airports. It is hoped the new airport will ease congesion at Dhaka's main airport – DHAKA (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
