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Published : 17 May 2025, 01:07 AM
For the past two years, the third terminal of Shahjalal International Airport has repeatedly been described as being in its “final stages", but the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) now says completion is genuinely within reach.
Aiming to start operations swiftly, the CAAB is moving towards signing an agreement by June with a Japanese consortium comprising four companies.
Once the deal is finalised, the consortium will begin staff recruitment and training, followed by a trial run of the terminal.
The CAAB hopes to open the eye-catching new terminal to passengers by the end of this year.
Speaking at his office on Wednesday, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan said the authority is overseeing all aspects of the project—from airport development to operations, maintenance, licensing of airlines and aircraft, and pilot certifications.
Regarding progress, he said: “The third terminal’s construction is almost complete. Only some work remains in the VVIP section, which may take until June or July due to complexities in the contracts and delays in importing materials like granite flooring and ceiling components from abroad.”
Daily inspections are under way, he noted. “Our target is to begin operations as soon as possible because this terminal has been built with loaned funds, which we must repay.
“So, we are prioritising early operation.”
He added, “Each machine in the third terminal is now being checked one by one. Our aim is to complete everything within this year and open it for passengers.”
The consortium of four Japanese firms will oversee the terminal’s operations and maintenance.
National flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines will continue to provide ground handling services alongside the consortium.
Biman has been offering ground services since the country’s independence, but its performance has faced criticism from other airlines over the years.
Responding to a question on Biman’s continued involvement and concerns over service quality, the CAAB chairman said: “As per current instructions, Biman will handle ground services for the next two years.
“A high-level advisory committee has been formed for this. The entire operation, however, will run under the supervision of the Japanese consortium.
“Biman and the consortium will work under a Service Level Agreement (SLA), while CAAB will sign the main agreement with the consortium,” he added.
The CAAB expects negotiations with the Japanese consortium to be finalised by June.
Once the agreement is reached, the consortium will be given five to six months to start operations.
This phase will include recruitment, general and technical training, and testing of equipment.
Monjur said, “They will need to train staff separately for systems such as explosive detection (EDS), luggage handling and scanning machines.
“To run a terminal, you must run and test the complete system through mockdown drills and emergency simulations. Every component must be verified.
“These procedures will take some time. Once everything is completed and the terminal is fully ready, we will open it. We are hopeful of completing all preparations within this year,” he added.
