The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has proposed five strategic measures to ensure the full utilisation of Shah Amanat International Airport and develop Chattogram into a regional investment and logistics hub.
CCCI President Mohammed Amirul Haque formally placed the proposals in a letter sent to Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Saturday.
In the letter, the chamber expressed its support for the government’s initiative to transform Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy by 2034 and develop Chattogram as a regional investment and logistics hub.
The chamber noted that Chattogram has emerged as a major commercial and investment centre due to its strategic location, the country’s principal seaport, large wholesale markets, export processing zones, and special economic zones.
However, the business body pointed out that Shah Amanat International Airport is still operating below its potential, despite having significant scope for greater cargo handling, Unit Load Device (ULD) operations, and international connectivity.
The chamber highlighted that the airport could be developed as an East-West aviation, tourism, and logistics gateway by expanding its capacity and attracting more connectivity traffic.
It also stressed the need to establish an integrated logistics system for international trade by strengthening the connectivity between Chattogram Port and the airport.
To support this, the chamber proposed creating investment opportunities in areas adjacent to the airport through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Build-Own-Operate (BOO), and Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) models to develop the required infrastructure.
The five specific proposals submitted by the CCCI are – operating Shah Amanat International Airport 24 hours a day, introducing a 40 per cent preferential tariff for international routes, providing passenger boarding and disembarkation facilities for long-haul flights, developing capacity to provide transit and refuelling facilities for long-haul flights, establishing cargo villages and ICD/CFS facilities in areas adjacent to the airport under PPP, BOO, or BOOT arrangements.
The CCCI maintained that the implementation of these measures would help maximise the airport’s existing potential while strengthening Chattogram’s role as a regional investment and logistics hub.
The business community has requested the finance minister to consider these proposals, take the necessary steps, and provide appropriate guidance to the relevant authorities.
