Dhaka airport’s third terminal: Bangladesh seeks revised proposal from Japan
Bangladesh has asked the Japanese side to quickly submit a revised proposal on the operation and maintenance of the third terminal at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The request was made during a meeting between officials of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Affairs Ministry, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and a Japanese delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today. The issue is expected to be discussed again at another meeting, likely to be held by the end of March.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. After nearly a year, the two sides resumed talks in a renewed effort to operationalise the long-delayed third terminal on a win-win basis, meeting sources told The Daily Star.
While attending the meeting, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rasheduzzaman Millat urged the Japanese delegation to submit a revised proposal on the operation and maintenance of the third terminal soon, sources said.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed a proposal presented by the Japanese delegation regarding the terminal’s operation and maintenance.“We had a productive meeting. We are working to make the third terminal operational as soon as possible, following the instruction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. We hope to reach a win-win agreement with Japan to open the new terminal,” Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom Rita told reporters after the meeting.
The high-level meeting marked the first formal negotiation under the newly formed BNP-led government, reflecting a fresh push to resolve contractual and operational deadlocks that have kept the nearly completed third terminal idle.
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom Rita, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam represented Bangladesh during the negotiations, among others.
The Japanese delegation included Charge d’Affaires of the Japan Embassy in Bangladesh Takahashi Naoki and Assistant Vice Minister of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Rieko Nakayama, along with other senior officials.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Humayun Kabir and M Rashiduzzaman Millat described the discussions as positive and expressed optimism that a mutually acceptable solution could be reached soon.
Millat said Bangladesh and Japan are seeking a solution beneficial for Bangladesh while correcting shortcomings in earlier agreements.
He said complications had arisen regarding certain charges and operational issues in the agreement related to the management of the terminal.
The state minister explained that civil aviation agreements generally involve three categories of charges, and differences had emerged between the two sides over some of these issues.
“Both sides discussed the matter in detail. Bangladesh presented its proposals and the Japanese side also shared their position,” Millat said.
He added that the Japanese side has agreed to consider Bangladesh’s proposals and submit a revised offer shortly, after which further discussions will be held to finalise the arrangement.
Humayun Kabir said the government is examining the matter with Bangladesh’s national interest as the top priority. “The discussions between the two sides are progressing positively, and we hope to see meaningful progress soon,” he said.
CAAB officials said the delay largely resulted from indecision during the interim government, when negotiations over terminal management, operational control and revenue-sharing arrangements failed to reach consensus.
The Japanese consortium involved in the project includes Japan Airport Terminal Company, Sumitomo Corporation, Sojitz Corporation and Narita International Airport Corporation, while the terminal project was largely financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Approved in 2017 and launched in 2019 at a cost of about Tk 21,398 crore, the third terminal spans around 542,000 square metres and is designed to handle an additional 12-16 million passengers annually along with nearly 900,000 tonnes of cargo.
Aviation experts say operationalising the facility is crucial for easing congestion at Dhaka airport and advancing Bangladesh’s ambition to emerge as a regional aviation hub in South and Southeast Asia.
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