Staff Reporter:
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has reaffirmed its commitment to making the much-anticipated third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) operational by the end of this year.
“We will open it by the end of this year at any cost,” CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan said at a press conference held at the CAAB headquarters in the capital on Thursday afternoon.
The chairman said that 99% of the work on the iconic structure has already been completed. “We’ve to complete some minor works on the terminal building, but we are hopeful that these will be completed by March,” he added.
Aircraft are expected to begin using the new apron area of the terminal within a week, while formal negotiations with the Japanese consortium regarding the terminal’s management will commence soon, he said.
The CAAB chairman also stressed the importance of expediting the remaining work to ensure timely completion.
Highlighting the terminal’s significance, he said it will serve as a crucial gateway for the country’s economic growth and enhance global connectivity.
The third terminal project, costing Tk21,300 crore, was initiated on 28 December 2019. Of the total funding, the government provided Tk5,000 crore, while the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) financed the remainder.
Spanning 230,000 square meters, the terminal will include 115 check-in counters, 66 departure immigration desks, 59 arrival immigration desks, and three VIP immigration desks.
Once fully operational, the terminal is expected to double HSIA’s annual passenger and cargo handling capacity. The airport will be able to accommodate 24 million passengers annually, up from its current capacity of 8 million. Cargo handling capacity will also increase significantly from 500,000 tonnes per year.
During the briefing, the CAAB chairman also provided updates on other airport development projects in Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, Jashore, and Saidpur. He announced that all projects, except for Sylhet Airport, are scheduled for completion this year.
Action Against Security Personnel
Responding to a query about the recent assault of Bangladeshi-origin Norwegian passenger Sayeed Uddin at HSIA, the CAAB chairman confirmed that two security personnel have been removed from duty.
“A report was submitted following a thorough investigation. Based on the findings, the two personnel have been sent back to their respective forces for further action,” he said.
