The construction of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka is set to be completed by October this year, with flight operations expected to begin in early 2025, officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) have confirmed. According to CAAB, the third terminal’s construction is in its final stages and is on track to be completed by the October deadline. The Civil Aviation Authority will take over the terminal from the contractor in October, following which the process of scheduling flights from the new terminal will commence early next year. Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, uncertainty arose over the timely completion of the terminal. However, the interim government soon restored normalcy to the construction process. The striking design of the third terminal building has drawn attention in the project area, with finishing touches underway both inside and outside the facility. Read more: Target set for Dhaka Airport Third Terminal's full functionality by December 2024: CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan, Chairman of CAAB, recently inspected the progress of the third terminal. He directed the officials and workers involved in the project to ensure timely completion with a high standard of work. “About 98% of the work on the third terminal has already been completed, and overall progress is satisfactory. I have instructed those involved to finish the remaining tasks promptly,” Air Vice Marshal Monjur told UNB. “We expect all work to be completed by October. After taking over the terminal from the contractor, we will prepare to launch flight operations.” Consultancy firm Nippon Koei has estimated that around 6,000 skilled workers will be needed for the operation, maintenance, and security of the terminal, with nearly 4,000 of them required for security alone. However, CAAB officials said that it might take a few months to recruit the necessary workforce, meaning the terminal may not be fully operational immediately. Initially, CAAB and Biman Bangladesh Airlines will manage the terminal, with full operations likely to begin in February next year. Once operational, the third terminal will increase Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s passenger handling capacity by an additional 12 million passengers annually. Currently, the airport’s first and second terminals manage between 120 to 130 flights of more than 30 airlines daily, serving around 20,000 passengers. This equates to a capacity of approximately 8 million passengers per year. The new terminal will add 230,000 square meters of space to the airport, featuring 115 check-in counters, 66 departure and 59 arrival immigration desks, and three VIP immigration desks. It will also include 27 baggage screening machines, 40 security scanners, 12 boarding bridges, 16 carousels, and 11 body scanners. The construction project, launched by the government in 2017, began on December 28, 2019, with an estimated cost of Tk 21,398 crore. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing Tk 16,141 crore as a loan, with the remaining funds coming from the Bangladesh government. The construction is being carried out by Japan’s Mitsubishi and Fujita and South Korea’s Samsung. CAAB officials noted that once completed, the terminal will accommodate 37 aircraft at a time and feature two high-speed taxiways to reduce waiting times on the runway. Two buildings have also been constructed for import and export cargo operations. A three-story parking facility for 1,350 vehicles is nearing completion. Initially, 12 out of the 26 boarding bridges will be operational, with 15 self-service check-in counters and 10 automated passport control counters available for departing passengers. The terminal has been designed to ensure smooth entry and exit for passengers. It will be connected to the elevated expressway, and airport railway station via a tunnel. Hajj pilgrims will also have a dedicated tunnel from the Ashkona Hajj Camp to the third terminal. Last year, on October 7, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina partially inaugurated the terminal as part of her government’s development efforts ahead of the national elections. At that time, the government had announced that flights would operate from the third terminal by October this year. Read more: Govt will decide on ground handling at Dhaka airport’s third terminal and Biman is ready: CEO

In a significant development for Bangladesh’s aviation sector, the construction of the third terminal at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) is slated to be fully completed by April 5, 2024, with the terminal expected to be fully operational by October. This marks a pivotal moment in the expansion and modernization of the country’s aviation infrastructure. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) will take over the terminal’s responsibilities from the contractor once the construction is completed. This transition will initiate the process of moving operations from the old terminals to the new one, focusing on Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) project. AKM Maksudul Islam, the project director, told UNB that nearly all construction work, including civil engineering tasks, is nearing completion. Any remaining work is expected to be finalized in the first week of April, ensuring a smooth handover to CAAB by April 6. Preparations are underway to fully launch the terminal’s operations in October, including the completion of system integration and calibration tasks, which have successfully passed multiple evaluations. Read more: Terminal 3 will transform Bangladesh's passenger and cargo handling capabilities: EU Ambassador Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, Chairman of CAAB, informed UNB that the third terminal is almost ready for flight operations and is expected to be fully functional by October. The completion of this terminal will significantly increase Dhaka airport’s capacity, facilitating the growth of domestic and international airlines’ operations. This expansion is anticipated to improve passenger amenities, increase revenue, and enhance the airport’s overall efficiency.

Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, Charles Whiteley, has said the opening of Dhaka Airport’s Third Terminal will transform Bangladesh's passenger and cargo handling capabilities.  "Spectacular opening by Hon. PM Hasina of the impressive new airport terminal in Dhaka — which will transform Bangladesh passenger and cargo capabilities, including the potential to handle 24 million passengers per year," the EU ambassador wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).  Read: Aligning labour law with international standards ‘essential’ to consider GSP+, EU Ambassador says He was seen taking a selfie with Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Jeremy Bruer, at the new terminal which he shared from his social media account. Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy, Jan Janowski, also shared his experience of visiting Terminal 3 which had its soft-opening today (October 07, 2023).  "Bangladesh aviation taking off soon. Stunned by the beauty of the new Terminal 3 of HSIA, Dhaka — A lot of German technology behind the scenes, can't wait for the 1st Airbus 380 landing here," he wrote. Read: Honorary Consul of Malta Shoeb Chowdhury calls on EU Ambassador Charles Whiteley Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today soft-opened Terminal 3 of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and said that either Bangladesh's resort town Cox’s Bazar or Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka may soon become an international air transportation hub due to Bangladesh’s geographical location.

There has been no official decision yet on the ground handling work at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director and CEO Shafiul Azim has said. “The prime minister gave a clear directive during her visit to the airport that the ground handling should be improved, it should be world-class. We have been working to ensure that since then," he said. “Since then, we have been procuring new equipment. We  have already bought new equipment worth Tk 1,000 crore, and a Tk 600-700 crore budget to buy new equipment is in the pipeline. We have recruited manpower as well,” said the national flag carrier CEO. “There are limitations in this too, but we are working day and night,” he said. Also read: 12 boarding bridges will be operational when Dhaka Airport’s 3rd Terminal partially opens this Oct: CAAB A project with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is on, he added.