Chakaria, BD 🇧🇩 Closed Airport
ICAO
BD-0024
IATA
-
Elevation
36 ft
Region
BD-2
Local Time
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 21.77327° N, 92.06874° E
Continent: Asia
Type: Closed Airport
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Chakaria Airport (BD-0024) is a defunct airport. The following summary details recent traveler reviews and experiences for Cox's Bazar International Airport (CXB), which is the primary operational airport serving the region of Cox's Bazar, located approximately 23 miles from Chakaria. Overall traveler sentiment for Cox's Bazar Airport is generally positive, highlighting its functionality and convenience as a gateway to the famous sea beach, though some areas like cleanliness and amenities have room for improvement.
Cox's Bazar International Airport serves its purpose effectively as a domestic gateway to the popular coastal city, benefiting from ongoing modernization efforts and its prime location. While it provides essential services and a generally smooth experience, particularly in check-in and security, some travelers hope for further enhancements in internal amenities and consistent maintenance as it continues its development. It's worth noting that despite recent upgrades to handle international flights, its "international" status was temporarily stripped in October 2025 due to airlines' commercial viability concerns.
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The airport was effectively abandoned after the end of World War II, around 1945-1946. It was never operated as a formal civilian airport post-war, so there was no official 'closure' date in the modern sense.
Military demobilization and strategic redundancy. The airfield was built for the specific purpose of supporting the Allied Burma Campaign during WWII. With the end of the war, its strategic military purpose ceased. It was not considered economically viable or necessary to convert it into a civilian airport, especially with larger, more established airfields at Chittagong and Cox's Bazar nearby.
The site is currently abandoned but the concrete runway remains largely intact, though weathered and overgrown in places. It is not used for any official aviation purposes. The paved runway is repurposed by local residents for various informal activities, including drying agricultural products (like paddy and chili peppers), as a local road for light vehicles and pedestrians, for cattle grazing, and as a recreational space or playground for children. The land is under the ownership of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
Known historically as Chiringa Airfield, it was a critical forward airbase for the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) during the Burma Campaign of World War II (c. 1943-1945). It was a key operational base for fighter squadrons, such as those flying the Supermarine Spitfire, and transport aircraft. The airfield played a vital role in providing air support, reconnaissance, and supply missions against Japanese forces in Burma. Its location was strategic for launching raids and supporting ground troops, making it an important part of the network of airfields that contributed to the Allied victory in the region.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has expressed interest in renovating and reopening several abandoned WWII-era airstrips, including Chakaria. Proposals have been made to develop it into a domestic airport for short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft, a general aviation hub, or a flight training academy. The goal would be to boost regional connectivity and tourism, particularly given its proximity to the popular tourist destination of Cox's Bazar. However, as of early 2024, these plans remain in the proposal and feasibility study stage with no definitive timeline or allocated budget for construction to commence.