Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said Cox’s Bazar International Airport will be formally inaugurated in October this year. He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will open the airport. The minister made the announcement on Monday, 24 August, during a courtesy meeting with members of the Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum of Bangladesh at the Secretariat.

Millat said work to transform Cox’s Bazar Airport into an international airport is progressing. Bangladesh Biman Airlines and various international carriers are expected to operate flights from the airport after its inauguration. He said several foreign airlines have already expressed interest in operating flights from Cox’s Bazar.

The ministry has initiated efforts to launch direct international flights from Cox’s Bazar through communication and coordination with international airlines. Required agreements and memorandums of understanding are being processed. Separately, Millat said preparations are underway to open the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in December, with a contract with a Japanese consortium expected to be signed in September.