Dhaka, Jan 04 (V7N)- Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport have been suspended due to dense fog, leaving thousands of passengers stranded since early morning.

Passengers reported that despite waiting for two to three hours since dawn, flights have not been cleared for take-off. Airport authorities said that runway visibility has dropped to zero, making aircraft operations unsafe.

Officials also confirmed that due to prolonged foggy conditions over the past several days, the airport’s Instrument Landing System (ILS) category has been downgraded from Category II to Category I, further limiting landing and take-off capabilities in low-visibility conditions.

In recent days, several international flights were forced to divert to Kolkata, Chattogram, and Sylhet because of poor visibility at Dhaka airport.

Aviation experts fear that if the ILS category is not restored or visibility does not improve, both international and domestic passengers may face increased disruption in the coming days, especially amid persistent winter fog.

Airport authorities have advised passengers to remain in contact with their respective airlines for updates on flight schedules.

END/SMA/AJ