Cox’s Bazar Airport to be international in November

Dhaka: Cox’s Bazar would be developed as a tourism hub and direct international flights are planned, with the inauguration is expected to take place in November.

M Rashiduzzaman Millat said this while addressing a World Tourism Day 2026 program held on October 3 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Center in Dhaka. The event focused on “Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Tourism.”

Speaking as the chief guest, he mentioned work to transform Cox's Bazar Airport into an international facility is underway, with inauguration expected in the first week of November, alongside initiatives to launch direct flights from various countries.

Earlier, on October 1, reports cited the Minister saying Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia has confirmed plans to operate direct flights between Cox's Bazar and Penang.

"Alongside Biman Bangladesh Airlines, different international airlines will also operate flights from Cox's Bazar International Airport," he further claimed, adding that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would formally inaugurate Cox's Bazar International Airport.

Millat said the government was simultaneously working on several other international routes, especially the landlocked cities, to transform Cox's Bazar into a regional tourism and aviation destination.

"We are planning to commence direct flights on the Cox's Bazar-Kathmandu-Cox's Bazar route," he also mentioned.

The minister said initiatives were also underway to establish direct air connectivity between Cox's Bazar and Kunming in China's Yunnan province, targeting Chinese tourists from the country's southwestern and inland regions.

He said the government was exploring opportunities to attract tourists from Middle Eastern countries through direct air connections with Cox's Bazar.