Bangladesh does not have a single air base designed with operations and training of fighter jets in mind and, more importantly, such jets are not even permitted to fly over densely populated areas while training, Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Mahmud Hussain told Dhaka Stream.
He voiced a few concerns that have been playing on people's minds since the tragic crash of a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) aircraft on the Milestone College premises in the capital's Uttara on Monday – which has left 31 dead so far and scores others injured.
Underscoring that Bangladesh needs a dedicated air base for training on fighter jets and conducting flight exercises, Hussain said, "Our country currently lacks a separate air base specifically designed for operating and training with fighter jets."
The urbanisation of Dhaka and its surrounding areas is another factor that must be taken into consideration, according to the expert.
"When I first flew, the area [Uttara] was not densely populated. Now, if you look on the right side of the air base [in the capital's Kurmitola], there's a cantonment and it is sparsely populated. But on the left, the population density has exploded" he said.
He further mentioned that there are rules and regulations regarding the establishment of structures near air bases, often requiring clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
On the issue of the flight path, he said, "Fighter aircraft are not permitted to fly over densely-populated areas while training. But we must also consider our nation's security, and that means we need air defence capabilities near the capital."
Speaking to bdnews24, M Mafidur Rahman, a retired air vice marshal and former chairman of the CAAB, however, clarified that the site of the crash was not directly under the landing route.
"Had it been, the jet would have crashed in Uttara or Nikunja," he said, adding "This area [where Milestone College is located] is slightly to the northwest of the airport, where aircraft often go into holding patterns."
According to Mafidur, it is not practical to consider relocating the runway or the air force base from Dhaka.
He also said that air force training in Dhaka is restricted to specific aircraft, with primary training being conducted in Jashore, and advanced training in Chattogram.
Internationally, many cities have relocated military air bases from urban areas.
Singapore is relocating its Paya Lebar Airbase to make way for new housing. In Berlin, the historic Tempelhof Airport was closed and repurposed into public space. The United Kingdom (UK), Hong Kong and other developed countries also strictly enforce airspace safety regulations near urban areas.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Labour and Employment Adviser to the interim government M Sakhawat Hossain said, "I will tell all organisations, especially the defence ministry, that I think it is necessary to take a fresh look at how and where such training should be conducted."
He emphasised that such training should not be conducted in the capital considering Dhaka's dense population.
However, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan said on Tuesday that it is very important to have a strong air base in the capital's Kurmitola.
Speaking to the media, he said, "Accidents like this are very difficult to control, especially in a densely populated country like ours.
"We operate everywhere... this is our main base. We speak of the most vulnerable areas in Bangladesh, this is our most important space. All the VIPs live here, our structures are here, the parliament is here. There is a matter of protection here. It is very important to have a strong air base here."
Bangladesh has seen a troubling number of military air crashes over the past two decades, most of which involved jet aircraft.
According to media reports, at least 16 BAF planes have crashed since 2006, resulting in the deaths of 14 pilots and multiple casualties. Many of these incidents involved F-7 jets, manufactured by China.
The latest incident involved a F-7 BGI variant, which the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate of the armed forces on Tuesday termed a "battle-worthy fighter aircraft".
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