Safety of Saidpur Airport has becomes vulnerable as a portion of its boundary wall collapses on Sunday (25 August) night making way for unwanted persons to enter into the sensitive area quite easily.
Visiting the damaged site on Sunday at Poschim Para area of Bangalipur union in Saidpur upazila, this correspondent found that a portion of the wall on the western side stretching about 60 feet collapsed four days ago.
It was also found by this correspondent that the airport authority after the wall collapse, hurriedly made a make -shift fence on Tuesday (27 Aug) with blue coloured corrugated iron sheet using bamboo pieces as poles to erect it in order to prevent entrance of villagers inside airport area which is not enough to ensure safety.
Jamiruddin, a villager said that at dead night on Sunday when they were sleeping, awakened suddenly as heard a big bang and as they hurriedly came out found that a portion of the boundary wall had been collapsed.
A number of villagers alleged that the concerned contractor which was given work order to built the wall 5-6 years ago used sub standard materials making it vulnerable from the beginning.
During visit, this correspondent also noticed that a big portion of the wall attaching to the damaged part also tilted and number cracks have been developed posing threat of further collapse at any moment.
On contact, Airport Manager Shushanta Dutta said , process is on for permanent repairing of the damaged portion with brick built wall and added that armed ansar members are now guarding the site.
Upgrading Syedpur Airport to international standard discussed
BSS from Nilphamari adds: High officials at a meeting here have discussed current progress of the acquisition process of 912 acres of land for upgrading Syedpur Airport to international standard with all modern facilities.
Deputy Commissioner of Nilphamari Md. Hafizur Rahman Chowdhury presided over the meeting at his conference room on Saturday afternoon.
Member (Finance) of the Civil Aviation Authority Md. Mizanur Rahman, its Member (Admin) Abul Fayez Md. Alauddin Khan, Deputy Commissioner of Dinajpur Md. Mahmudul Hasan, Deputy Director (Local Government) Md. Motaleb Hossain, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md. Azaharul Islam, Additional District magistrate Khondker Nahid Hasan, Major Moktadir of Syedpur Cantonment, among others, addressed the meeting.
The officials concerned informed the meeting that Syedpur Airport is currently situating on 136 acres of land and operating domestic flights only.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced to upgrade Syedpur Airport to international standard in 2017.
Subsequently, a project was taken and field level authorities began process of preparing the field book for acquiring 912 acres of more land in Syedpur upazila of Nilphamari and Parbotipur upazila of Dinajpur on April 9 this year. Of them, 535 acres of privately owned land, 60 acres of Khas land, 39 acres of land of Water Development Board, six acres of land of the Roads and Highways Department, 14 acres of land of Syedpur Cantonment and 13 acres of more Khas land will be acquired in Bangalipur union of Syedpur upazila in Nilphamari.
Besides, 317 acres of privately owned land will be acquired in nearby Belaichondi union of Parbotipur upazila of Dinajpur district for the purpose. The Deputy Commissioners of Nilphamari and Dinajpur informed the meeting about progress already made in the land acquisition process.
They said the field level administrations of both the district administrations of Syedpur and Parbotipur upazilas would fix price of proposed lands to be acquired by the government by the next one month period.
After fixation of land price, compensation money would be given to land owners and government organisations, they further informed saying that the related notice has already been served to the land owners and authorities concerned.
The officials informed the meeting that the total land area of the air[port will be 1,048 acres after acquisition of 912 acres of more land when construction works will begin there soon for upgrading the airport to international standard.
