Third Terminal Opens December 16

The third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka will begin limited operations on December 16. A few flights will operate initially. The number of flights will then increase gradually. Once fully operational, the terminal is expected to raise passenger handling capacity by nearly four times and provide infrastructure for up to 250 aircraft.

Tuesday, September 8, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat shared the information while briefing journalists after inspecting the third terminal.

Millat said the terminal would start with limited operations on December 16. Flights would be added in phases as operational systems become ready. Full operations may take several more months.

The minister also said there is no plan to rename Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The government’s main focus is to make the third terminal operational as soon as possible.

He said Bangladesh’s revenue share from the project has increased from 15 percent to 27 percent after negotiations with the Japanese consortium. The government has also started the process of repaying the project loan. The terminal was financed mainly through a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA.

Millat said passenger service would be closely monitored. He directed authorities to ensure that passengers receive their baggage within 15 minutes of an aircraft landing. Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh will impose fines if the service target is not met.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate 50 percent of the ground handling services at the third terminal, the minister said. He expressed hope that the modern infrastructure would improve Bangladesh’s image among foreign investors.

Foreign Affairs State Minister-1 Humayun Kabir, Planning State Minister Zunaid Saki and BIDA Chairman Ashik Chowdhury were present during the inspection.

The third terminal project was approved in 2017. Construction began on December 28, 2019, with an estimated cost of Tk 21,398 crore. The government provided Tk 5,000 crore, while the remaining funding came through a JICA loan.

The terminal was partially inaugurated on October 7, 2023. The Civil Aviation Authority had then expected full operations by 2024. However, equipment integration, operational arrangements and management issues delayed the launch.

The government now plans to start limited operations on December 16 and expand services in phases. The project is expected to significantly increase the capacity and service quality of Bangladesh’s main international airport.
//DBTech/ETW/SME/MIS//