From Silence to Sky: Cumilla's abandoned airport eyes a comeback
Once bustling with activity, Cumilla Airport has remained neglected, its future grounded not by lack of potential, but by the reluctance of the authorities to invest in its revival
Beneath the overgrown grass and cracked tarmac of Cumilla's abandoned airport lies a forgotten legacy—a once-thriving airfield that served the skies during the turbulence of World War II, now reduced to a training ground for drivers and a dilapidated road.
For nearly five decades, the hum of aircraft engines has been silenced, replaced by the sighs of missed opportunities and administrative apathy.
Once bustling with activity, Cumilla Airport has remained neglected, its future grounded not by lack of potential, but by the reluctance of the authorities to invest in its revival.
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And yet, in the wind that whispers across its empty runway, there is renewed hope.
Civic leaders and business elites are uniting their voices, calling for the long-awaited resurrection of the airport—a move they say will ignite economic growth and draw much-needed foreign investment to the region.
The story of this forgotten hub dates back to 1940, when the airport was constructed near Neura-Dhulipara as a military base during World War II. It faithfully served both military and civilian flights until 1976, with the army primarily operating it on domestic routes until 1966.
Thereafter, it was opened to the public for 10 short years before falling into disuse.
Though passenger and cargo flights ceased long ago, the airport is far from obsolete. It continues to function as a vital signal relay station for international aviation, guiding 25–30 flights daily, most notably on Indian domestic routes and those heading to Agartala, Bangkok, and Singapore.
This service earns a respectable Tk30 to 40 lakh in monthly revenue.
Despite its faded glory, airport officials believe that only a modest investment—approximately Tk 30 crore—could breathe life back into the runway.
Cumilla Airport was originally established on 210 acres of land.
In 1999, 103 acres were handed over for the Cumilla Export Processing Zone (EPZ), leaving the airport with 77 acres, much of which now lies fallow.
A private cattle farm grazes across a section of the property, and the airstrip has slowly been reclaimed by nature.
The airport's jurisdiction now spans several localities under the Cumilla City Corporation—Neura, Dhulipara, Rajapara, Unaisar, Dishaband, and Rasulpur.
Roads once built for aircraft now serve the daily commute of city residents.
Yet the bones of the airport remain intact. A skeleton staff of 22, including two officers, still watch over its quiet halls.
The terminal stands still, and the air traffic control tower is dormant.
What's needed, officials say, are runway carpeting, fire services activation, and recruitment of skilled personnel.
"Just a small investment could bring this airport back to life," said Nasir Uddin Ahmed, Communication Networking Engineer at Cumilla Airport.
"If the government prioritises it, reopening the airport won't take long," he said.
His optimism is shared by many in Cumilla's business community.
Jamal Ahmed, Vice President of the Cumilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, sees the airport as a lifeline for industrial growth.
"The airport's reopening would make travel easier for foreign investors, leading to job creation for thousands. We urgently need the airport to be operational for the growth of Cumilla's industrial sector," he said.
Md Firoz Khandaker, Managing Director of Khandaker Food Industries in Cumilla BSCIC, added, "We currently export products like vermicelli to Malaysia and India's Assam. Soon, we plan to expand to Saudi Arabia and Dubai. If the airport were open, buyers could visit easily, and we could ship urgent goods by air."
Beyond industry, the airport carries sentimental and practical value for the local population. With one of the highest numbers of expatriates in the country, Cumilla's need for a functioning domestic airport is both real and pressing.
"Cumilla has one of the highest expatriate populations in the country," said Ahmed Shoeb Sohel, General Secretary of the Comilla Club.
"There is a strong demand for domestic flights and this airport could serve that need while boosting foreign investment," he said.
A sleeping runway awaits its second take-off in this forgotten corner of Bangladesh.
The call has been made, the demand resounding. All that remains is the will to make it soar again.
