Dhaka: The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh and a joint venture of Changjiang Yichang Waterway Engineering Bureau (CYWEB) and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) on February 9 signed an agreement to expand the runway of Cox's Bazar Airport.

After the completion of the project worth BDT 1,568.86 crore, the newly expanded runway will be the longest in the country and will enable wide-bodied aircraft like Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 747-400 to take off or land said CAAB in a press release.

After the expansion of 1,700 feet, the total length of the runway of this airport will be 11,700 feet, added the release.

Air Vice-Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, Chairman of CAAB and CYWEB-CCECC JV's authorized representative Yang Zhijun signed the deal on behalf of their respective organizations.

The government last year undertook this initiative to expand the runway of Cox's Bazar airport with an aim to upgrade it to international standards and offer foreign holidaymakers a hassle-free trip to the world's longest unbroken sea beach and popular tourist destination of the country.

CAAB further mentioned that this project will be funded by the government itself.