Dhaka, Oct. 14 -- The government has officially declared the Cox's Bazar Airport an international airport through a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism (MoCAT).

According to the notification issued on Sunday night, the declaration was made under Sub-rule (1) of Rule 16 of the Civil Aviation Rules, 1984, and takes effect immediately.

Officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) said they expect to inaugurate the airport later this month, although the gazette did not mention any specific date.

"No date has yet been finalised for the inauguration of international flights," said Ahmed Zamil, joint secretary of MoCAT, who signed the notification.

Earlier, on August 7 this year, the CA...