Bangladeshi 58 Airfields: Past, Present, and What Remains Today

Bangladesh has a surprisingly rich aviation history. While most of us know about Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka or the beautiful coastal runway in Cox’s Bazar, very few realize that the country once had dozens of smaller airfields scattered across districts — many of which now lie abandoned, demolished, or repurposed.

In this post, we explore a comprehensive list of 58 airfields across Bangladesh, complete with their locations and current operational status. This list is based on official and archival data compiled from aviation maps and government records.

A Quick Look at Active Airports

Bangladesh currently has a handful of active airfields that handle commercial or military operations.

Some of the most important ones include:

• Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (Tejgaon / Kurmitola, Dhaka) – The country’s main aviation hub.
• Jashore Airport – A key domestic and military airfield.
• Barishal Airport – Serving the southern division with regional flights.
• Sylhet Airport – Gateway to the northeast and international routes.
• Cox’s Bazar Airport – Now expanding to become one of South Asia’s largest tourist airports.
• Saidpur Airport – Serving the northern districts.
• Bogura & Lamonirhat Airfields – Both operational with limited use, often for training or local services.

Abandoned & Demolished Airfields: Echoes of the Past

During World War II and the early Pakistan era, many small airstrips were built across Bengal for military and emergency use. Over time, as aviation infrastructure evolved, these fields were abandoned or repurposed.

Some notable examples include:

• Ishwardi Airfield – Once active, now largely unused.
• Tangail, Thakurgaon, and Patuakhali – Abandoned but still visible from satellite imagery.
• Ramu Series (Ramu no1–no5) – Located near Cox’s Bazar, all demolished and now part of rural development zones.
• Feni Main Airfield – Converted into a cadet college campus.
• Rajendrapur, Araihazar, Chandina, and Magura – Former military or temporary strips now completely gone.

These sites hold immense historical value and could be potential spots for aviation heritage preservation or future air transport development.

Total Airfields by Status

Bangladesh Airfields and Their Current Status

Serial	Airport Name	Longitude	Latitude	Status
1	Thakurgaon	88.4	26.04	Abandoned
2	Lamonirhat	89.41	25.94	Active
3	Bogura	89.32	24.71	Active
4	Ishwardi	89.09	24.11	Abandoned
5	Jessore	89.17	23.18	Active
6	Barisal	90.35	22.77	Active
7	Feni Main	91.39	23.04	Cadet College
8	Porsuram	91.43	23.25	Demolished
9	Comilla Main	91.2	23.44	Abandoned
10	Hazipur	89.99	24.53	Demolished
11	Tejgaon	90.41	23.75	Active
12	Kurmitola	90.4	23.82	Active
13	Sylhet	91.89	24.92	Active
14	Shamsernagar	91.99	24.43	Active
15	Cox’s Bazar	91.97	21.43	Active
16	Ramu no2	92.02	21.43	Demolished
17	Ramu no1	92.08	21.39	Demolished
18	Ramu no3	92.11	21.43	Demolished
19	Ramu main	92.11	21.39	Demolished
20	Ramu no4	92.13	21.37	Demolished
21	Ramu no5	92.05	21.37	Demolished
22	Nidania/George	92.07	21.23	Demolished
23	Rumkhapalong	92.11	21.25	Demolished
24	Ratnap	92.14	21.25	Demolished
25	Unknown	92.14	21.19	Demolished
26	Hove	92.12	21.13	Demolished
27	Hathazari	91.81	22.59	Army Dairy
28	Bhatpara	91.16	23.3	Demolished
29	Comilla no2	91.27	26.32	Demolished
30	Chandina	91.08	23.46	Demolished
31	Singerbil no2	91.33	23.99	Demolished
32	Feni no2	91.45	22.92	Demolished
33	Faridpur	89.85	23.58	Heliport
34	Jahaj Ghat, Dhaka	90.38	23.73	Sadar Ghat
35	Mymensing Main	90.43	24.76	Parade Ground
36	Kulaura	92.05	24.54	Demolished
37	Srimongol	91.75	24.3	Demolished
38	Sorarchor	90.92	24.22	Abandoned
39	Saidpur	88.91	25.76	Active
40	Tangail main	89.91	24.22	Abandoned
41	Potuakhali	90.32	22.38	Abandoned
42	Kashimpur, Savar	90.31	23.85	Demolished
43	Mongla	89.62	22.65	Abandoned
44	Rajendrapur	90.44	24.1	Demolished
45	Araihazar	90.64	23.79	Abandoned
46	Jorka	90.19	24.67	Demolished
47	Elenga	90.15	24.26	Heliport
48	Double Mooring	91.79	22.33	Sea Port
49	Potenga	91.82	22.26	Active
50	Dohazari	92.09	22.16	Demolished
51	Chiringa	92.06	21.74	Abandoned
52	Chorsolakia	91.06	22.74	Abandoned
53	Poba	88.62	24.42	Active
54	Balisera	91.71	24.23	Demolished
55	Kustia	89.11	23.9	Demolished
56	Magura	89.43	23.48	Demolished
57	Mitamain	91.06	24.42	Demolished
58	Sandip	91.53	22.43	Demolished

Here’s a quick breakdown of the 58 known airfields:

Status	Count	Examples
Active	13	Dhaka (Tejgaon, Kurmitola), Jessore, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar
Abandoned	10	Ishwardi, Tangail, Thakurgaon, Patuakhali
Demolished	30+	Ramu group, Magura, Kulaura, Chandina
Heliports / Others	2	Faridpur, Elenga
Special Use / Sea Port	2	Double Mooring (Chattogram), Jahaj Ghat (Dhaka)

Aviation Mapping and Research Opportunities

A digital map of these airfields reveals fascinating patterns — most runways were located along major transport corridors or near rivers for logistical access.

Today, many of these abandoned strips could be useful for emergency response, tourism air services, air cargo operations, or drone logistics.

If developed strategically, these forgotten airfields could decongest major airports and open new opportunities (e.g. cargo operations) for regional air connectivity in Bangladesh.

Conclusion

Bangladesh’s aviation story is more than just modern airports — it’s a mix of history, geography, and forgotten infrastructure.

Whether you’re a pilot, historian, or just curious, exploring these airfields offers a window into how the country’s skies evolved — and what could come next.