STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam yesterday said the government has started feasibility studies to convert existing Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) ports into domestic airports in eight districts.

The initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to build an air connectivity grid. Under the plan, small airports and airstrips will first be built to connect divisional cities, followed by district-level links, she said in response to a query from MP Abu Taleb Mandol during a Jatiya Sangsad session.

Feasibility studies are being carried out on a priority basis for STOL ports in Bogura, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Ishwardi in Pabna, Shamshernagar in Moulvibazar, Khanjahan Ali in Bagerhat, Cumilla and Patuakhali.