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Dhaka: With construction nearly finished, Bangladesh is preparing to bring the long-delayed Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport into operation, with authorities aiming for a symbolic opening on Victory Day December 16.
The BDT 21,300 crore facility—spanning 230,000 square meters and equipped with 115 check-in counters and extensive immigration facilities—has been largely ready since its soft launch in October 2023. However, it has yet to become operational as negotiations and technical preparations continue.
While talking to the members of Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) at his head office in the capital on April 27, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq said that the government is working toward a December 16 target, though several steps remain. Final agreements with international partners must first be signed, a process expected to take at least three months, followed by a testing phase lasting six months to a year. Limited operations are likely to begin about six months after testing starts.
Talks with a Japanese consortium—including Japan Airport Terminal Company, Sumitomo Corporation, Nippon Koei, and Narita International Airport Corporation—resumed in March after being paused for over a year. Discussions are focusing on issues such as embarkation fees, upfront payments, and revenue-sharing structures.
The terminal was constructed by a consortium led by Mitsubishi Corporation, alongside Fujita Corporation and Samsung C&T.
Once fully operational, the new terminal is expected to transform capacity at the airport, doubling annual passenger handling to around 24 million and significantly increasing cargo throughput. At present, the airport manages roughly 8 million passengers and 500,000 tons of cargo each year.
Officials said, the agreement framework is being designed to protect Bangladesh’s interests while ensuring the terminal can operate efficiently once launched.
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