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Dhaka: Three government advisers—Sheikh Bashir Uddin of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, Md Touhid Hossain of Foreign Affairs Ministry, and Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan of Energy Ministry—visited Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s (HSIA) Third Terminal today to review its progress and operational preparedness.
The high-level team toured the newly built terminal, receiving a detailed briefing on its construction status and upcoming operational phases. Designed to be a game-changer for Bangladesh’s aviation sector, the Third Terminal is expected to significantly increase both passenger and cargo capacity upon completion.
Following the visit, the advisers joined a presentation at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) headquarters, where officials outlined key aspects of the project and future plans for efficient operations. Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury attended the session virtually. Also present were Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser Lutfey Siddiqi, Civil Aviation Secretary Nasreen Jahan, and CAAB Chairman Air Vice-Marshal Mohammad Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan.
To ensure smooth and international-standard operations, the government in April formed a six-member oversight committee led by Adviser Fauzul Kabir Khan. The committee includes key stakeholders such as Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, BIDA Chairman Chowdhury, Special Envoy Siddiqi, Secretary Jahan (as member secretary), and CAAB Chairman Bhuiyan.
CAAB reaffirmed in January that the terminal will be launched by the end of 2025, with Chairman Bhuiyan stating, “We will open it by the end of this year at any cost.”
Launched in December 2019, the Tk 21,300 crore project—co-financed by the government and JICA—spans 230,000 square meters. It will expand HSIA’s capacity to 24 million passengers and over one million tonnes of cargo annually, featuring 115 check-in counters and 125 immigration booths.
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