Saidpur airport to boost connectivity with Nepal and Bhutan. Efforts are ongoing to convert Saidpur Airport in Nilphamari into an international airport, since making it a vital transit point will improve connection between Nepal, Bhutan, and India’s Seven Sister states.
The northernmost airport in Bangladesh is located on 136.56 acres of land, approximately 260 kilometers from Dhaka by air, with flights taking around 48 minutes to reach the city.
Saidpur airport, which began operations as a domestic airport in 1979, has since grown to become one of the country’s busiest landing strips, with around 30 planes per day flying the Dhaka-Saidpur-Dhaka route.
The 6000-foot-long runway is used by national flag airline Bangladesh Biman as well as commercial carriers US-Bangla Airlines and Novoair, according to Suplob Kumar Ghosh, manager of Saidpur airport.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced intentions to prepare Saidpur airport for international flights in 2018, and construction work is presently underway.
When completed, it would be the country’s sixth international airport, he said.
Official estimates place the journey time from Saidpur airport to Nepal, Bhutan, or the Seven Sister States of India at 30 to 50 minutes.
