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Since 2011, at least 525 illegal high-rise buildings have been constructed along the approach paths of Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) and the old Tejgaon Airport runways, exceeding the approved height limits.
Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq, disclosed the information on Thursday during a media briefing held at the CAAB headquarters in the capital.
However, he stated that the CAAB does not have the authority to demolish the unapproved portions of these buildings.
"CAAB has been repeatedly writing to the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) over the past ten years regarding the issue, as it is their responsibility to take action against the unapproved structures," said the CAAB Chairman.
The issue of unauthorised high-rise buildings near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has come into focus following the recent plane crash at Milestone School and College campus in Diabari area of the capital's Uttara that left 35 people killed and many others injured.
However, during the media briefing, CAAB officials clarified that there are no unauthorised high-rise buildings in the vicinity of the Milestone campus.
Group Captain Md Noor-e-Alam, Member (Air Traffic Management) of the CAAB, explained that the permitted height for buildings in that area is up to 150 feet, and the tallest building surrounding the Milestone school camps is currently 135 feet high.
Regarding the inauguration of the Terminal 3 at the HSIA, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mostafa did not provide a specific date. However, he mentioned that efforts are underway to make the terminal fully operational very soon.
He also stated that discussions are ongoing with the Japanese consortium regarding the operation of the terminal, and a formal agreement will be signed once both parties reach an understanding.
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