PM directs fast-track opening of Dhaka airport’s long-delayed Third Terminal
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today directed authorities to expedite the opening of the long-awaited Third Terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) to boost passenger handling capacity and operational efficiency.
The decision came at a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister at the Cabinet Division’s special conference room to review operations at the Third Terminal.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddique, BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Civil Aviation Secretary Nasreen Jahan and other officials attended the meeting.
Civil Aviation Minister Afroza Khanam told reporters, “It is not possible at this stage to specify exactly when the Third Terminal will be ready for operations. We are, however, exploring ways to expedite the commencement of operations. The prime minister has also taken proactive steps to ensure that the Third Terminal becomes operational at the earliest.”
The project was initiated by the then Awami League government in 2017, with construction beginning on December 28, 2019 at an estimated cost of Tk 21,398 crore. The government contributed Tk 5,000 crore, while the remainder was financed through loans from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
A “soft inauguration” was carried out by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on October 7, 2023. However, full operations, originally scheduled for 2024, did not commence.
Even after the interim government’s repeated efforts, the terminal remained unopened.
The delay was mainly due to unresolved decisions on ground handling and operational issues, as well as some technical flaws inside the terminal building.
Earlier, former Civil Aviation Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said in early January, “The interim government made every effort, including negotiations with the Japanese vice minister, but their attempts were unsuccessful.”
Sources at CAAB said the delay was linked to unresolved issues over the operation and maintenance of the terminal. Negotiations between CAAB and a Japanese consortium on the mandatory operation and maintenance agreement failed to reach a consensus.
The consortium includes Japan Airport Terminal Company, Sumitomo Corporation, Sojitz, and Narita International Airport Corporation.
The terminal spans 542,000 square metres and will require around 6,000 personnel to operate in four shifts, including about 4,000 security staff.
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