Special Correspondent :
The government would not sanction fund from the state’s coffer to install a new radar system at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs at the Secretariat on Wednesday, sources said.
The committee said the Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh, (CAAB) would have to utilize its own funds instead of the government to procure the radar systems and other equipment for HSIA.
“CAAB has the ability to procure the radar system from its own fund,” CAAB Chairman Air-Vice Marshal M Mofidur Rahman told The New Nation on Friday.
He said we will procure the radar from Thales LAS France and the installation of the new radar would cost Tk 700 crore.
“We will sign a G-to-G deal with France within a month. The installation of the radar is expected to take roughly two and a half years after signing the deal,” said CAAB Chairman.
When asked, M Mofidur Rahman said, procurement of the state-of-the-art radar system will not be burdensome for CAAB because there will be an option to pay the full amount by installments,” he added.
CAAB officials said, the current radar system in the country’s prime air port is severely outdated compared to global standards, and that part of the reason for upgrading the system is to comply with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines.
The radar will be installed under a project
“Supply, Installation and Commissioning of a Multi Mode Surveillance System (Radar, ADS-B Wide area Multilateration -WAM) along with ATC and Communication system at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), Dhaka”.
The 37-year-old analog radar currently installed at HSIA, is unable to detect foreign aircraft flying over that airspace, said CAAB officials.
The new radar will increase surveillance over Bangladesh’s territorial waters and airspace.
It will also allow Bangladesh to collect fines from trespassing aircraft, which are required to pay minimum $500 for a single infringement.
Moreover, the new system will be able to detect aircraft that are landing or taking off. Such procedures have to be conducted with an element of risk due to the current radar’s inability to detect such activity.
