Commercial flights from Jashore Airport to resume soon

After a closure of about two-and-a-half months, Jashore Airport is going to resume commercial flights soon. Helicopters carrying only cargo and patients are now operating at the only airport in the south-western part of the country.

Jashore airport has not yet been opened as there is no opportunity to verify whether there are any suspected Covid-19 patients among the passengers of the aircraft, said sources.

To reopen the airport as before, the authorities have sent a letter to the health ministry seeking necessary medical equipment and a medical team.

"The Civil Surgeon of Jashore has been tasked to take necessary steps to quickly deploy a medical team to the airport," Jashore Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shafiul Arif said.

Civil Surgeon Dr Sheikh Abu Shaheen said, "I have already written to the higher authorities to appoint a medical team for the airport."

During a visit to the airport today, he said a medical team will be deployed at the airport within two to three days.

After the detection of Covid-19 cases in the country, all the airports in the country were closed on March 25. Jashore Airport operated its last commercial flight on March 24.

Before the closure, there were 12 public-private flights per day at Jashore Airport. Of these, six were from US-Bangla, five from NovoAir and one from Bangladesh Biman, Jashore Airport sources said.

After the general holiday ended, flight operations resumed between the Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, and Saidpur airports. Medical teams are already working there.

The Rajshahi, Cox's Bazar and Barishal airports have not yet reopened due to them lacking medical teams.

Jashore Airport Manager Masudul Haque said, "I talked about the medical team at headquarters on Saturday. The Health Ministry was informed by the headquarters. However, the ministry did not respond. I also contacted the Civil Surgeon of Jashore.''

"There will be no problem in operating regular commercial flights from this airport once a medical team is appointed. There is a plan to allocate rooms for the medical team," he added.

Former president of Jashore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mizanur Rahman Khan said in order to keep the business running, it is necessary to resume its operations quickly, adhering to hygiene regulations.