Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
Biman launches Hajj flights for 2024
Biman Bangladesh Airlines commenced its dedicated Hajj flights this morning, marking the beginning of its annual service to transport pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia for the holy Hajj.
The inaugural flight, BG3301, departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 7 am, carrying 415 pilgrims directly to Jeddah. The event began with a ceremony at 5:30 am, attended by key figures including Md Faridul Haque Khan, Minister of Religious Affairs; Sajjadul Hassan, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Civil Aviation and Tourism; Air Vice Marshal Md Mafidur Rahman, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB); Shafiul Azim, Managing Director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines; and Md Shahadat Hossain Taslim, President of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB).
PM inaugurates Hajj programme-2024
This year, a record number of 85,257 Bangladeshi pilgrims will journey to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj, with Biman Bangladesh Airlines handling approximately 50% of these travelers, totaling 42,629 pilgrims. To accommodate this massive undertaking, Biman has scheduled 116 pre-Hajj flights and 125 post-Hajj flights. Furthermore, the airline has expanded its service to include flights from Sylhet and Chattogram, enhancing access and convenience for pilgrims across Bangladesh.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines continues to operate these flights exclusively with its own fleet, underscoring its capability and readiness to manage the logistical demands of Hajj travel.
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Bodies of 8 Bangladeshis who died in Tunisia boat capsize to arrive today
The bodies of eight Bangladeshi nationals who died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe and subsequently drowned near the coast of Tunisia will arrive in the country this afternoon.
According to a Facebook post by the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the coffins, transported via Saudia Airlines, are scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 12:15 pm on May 2.
On Tuesday, in the presence of Bangladesh's Ambassador to Libya and non-resident envoy to Tunisia, Major General (Retd.) Abul Hasnat Mohammad Khairul Bashar, embassy officials transferred the bodies to the authorities at Tunis International Airport.
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Following the tragic incident on the night of February 14, officials at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli worked closely with Tunisia's Foreign Ministry and local authorities to manage the forensic identification, confirmation of identities through domestic agencies, issuance of death and medical certificates, and coordination of the repatriation process.
The Foreign Ministry's Africa Wing coordinated inter-ministerial efforts to facilitate the repatriation of the bodies, with assistance from the ministries of home, law, and funds from the Expatriates Welfare Ministry.
Among the deceased are Sajal, Noyon Biswas, Mamun Sheikh, Kazi Sajib, and Kaiser Khalifa from Madaripur district, and Rifat, Russel, and Imrul Kayes from Gopalganj district.
A boat, carrying 52 passengers and a sailor from the coast of Zuwarah on its way to Europe, sank off the Tunisian coast. Out of the 44 survivors, 27 are Bangladeshis, with others from Pakistan (8), Syria (5), and Egypt (4). Among the nine fatalities, eight were identified as Bangladeshis and one as a Pakistani national.
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Construction of Dhaka Airport’s Third Terminal set to be fully complete by April 5
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.
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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.
US-Bangla Airlines welcomes first Airbus, another Boeing to expanding fleet
US-Bangla Airlines on Friday welcomed an Airbus A330-300, with 436-seat capacity, to its fleet.
The wide body Airbus landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), where it was greeted by a water cannon salute.
US-Bangla Airlines Chief Executive Officer Captain Lutfor Rahman officially accepted the newly-added aircraft to his fleet, said a media release signed by Md. Kamrul Islam, general manager (Public Relations) of US-Bangla Airlines Ltd.
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The airline plans to use the new Airbus to operate its planned London and Rome routes, as well as Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam in Saudi Arabia, also part of its future plans as it expands its international network.
At present it would operate the Dubai, Sharjah, Muscat, Doha, and Kuala Lumpur routes.
An expanding network goes hand-in-hand with an expanding fleet, and the Airbus was not the only aircraft that US-Bangla added to its fleet on Friday.
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Barely 12 hours earlier at 4:10am, a Boeing 737-800 landed at HSIA via Georgia-Serbia. Before Friday, US-Bangla Airlines boasted a fleet of 21 aircraft.
Following today's additions, the airline's fleet consists of an Airbus A330-300, nine Boeing 737-800s, ten ATR 72-600s and three Dash 8-Q400 aircraft. There are plans to add another Airbus A330-300 soon.
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US-Bangla Airlines currently operates regular flights on all domestic routes, as well as international ones to Kolkata, Chennai, Male, Muscat, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Guangzhou.
The two new aircraft were officially received by senior officials of the airlines at HSIA.
Flyers on Indian flight stuck in Dhaka Airport for over 12 hours. Here’s why
An IndiGo plane from India’s Mumbai to Guwahati had to make an emergency landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka early today (January 13, 2024).
The diverted plane landed in Dhaka at 4 am after failing to land at the Guwahati airport owing to poor visibility, reports NDTV.
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According to the airline, the passengers who are still onboard the plane have been served refreshments, and a replacement crew is being organised to transport them to Guwahati.
"IndiGo flight 6E 5319 from Mumbai to Guwahati was diverted to Dhaka, Bangladesh due to bad weather in Guwahati. Due to operational reasons, an alternate set of crew is being arranged to operate the flight from Dhaka to Guwahati. The passengers were kept informed of updates and were served with refreshments on board. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused," an IndiGo statement said.
Two flights from Middle East make emergency landing in Sylhet due to dense fog
Several passengers resorted to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the extended wait following the unexpected reroute. Former Mumbai Youth Congress head Suraj Singh Thakur, who was on his way to Imphal to participate in the Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra, wrote on X that the passengers had been on the flight for several hours.
"I took IndiGo6E flight 6E 5319 from Mumbai to Guwahati. But due to dense fog, the flight couldn't land in Guwahati. Instead, it landed in Dhaka," he wrote.
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Another flier wrote on X that the 178 passengers had been waiting for more than four hours for another crew to fly them back to their location.
"IndiGo6E stuck inside aircraft with 178 passengers for 9 hours now, flying 6E 5319 from Mumbai to Guwahati. We made a landing in Dhaka around 4am because of lower visibility in the North East. We have been waiting for another crew for 4 hours now, can we please expedite?" He wrote.
Biman introduces body-worn cameras for ground handling staff
The Biman Bangladesh Airlines has unveiled plans to introduce state-of-the-art body-worn cameras for its ground handling staff.
The initiative, announced by Biman Managing Director and CEO Shafiul Azim, is expected to address longstanding allegations of pilferage, missing luggage, and passenger harassment at the Dhaka airport.
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Dense fog disrupts flight operations at Dhaka airport; 6 flights diverted
Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport were disrupted for eight and a half hours on Tuesday (January 02, 2024) due to dense fog.
Six flights that failed to land at the airport were diverted to Sylhet and Chittagong international airports, Executive Director of Shahjalal Airport Group Captain Mohammad Kamrul Islam told UNB.
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He said flights could not operate normally from 12 am to 8:30 am due to fog, he said adding that flight operations resumed at 9am after the weather returned to normal.
According to a Met office bulletin, moderate to thick fog may occur over the country during midnight to morning and it may continue till Wednesday noon at places over the country.
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Air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may disrupt due to thick fog, it said.
Boosting Dhaka’s connectivity: Japan funding for Hazrat Shahjalal Airport’s major upgrade
In a significant development for Bangladesh’s aviation sector, the country and Japan today signed the exchange of notes of the 44th Official Development Assistance (ODA) yen loan. This crucial funding, amounting to 76,635 million yen (approximately USD 540 million), is earmarked for the expansion of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).
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The installment will be used for constructing Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Third International Passenger Terminal, a Cargo Terminal, and associated facilities.
The agreement was formalized by Iwama Kiminori, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, and Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance. This latest installment brings the total of the 44th round of yen loans to a substantial 324,191 million yen (around USD 2.21 billion).
A corresponding loan agreement was signed by Yoshida Hiroshi, Senior Representative of JICA's Bangladesh Office, and Shariar Siddiky, emphasizing the commitment to meet the growing aviation demands, enhance airport capacity, improve accessibility, and bolster security. This expansion is anticipated to significantly contribute to Bangladesh’s economic development and regional connectivity.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, at the recent soft opening of Dhaka Airport’s Third Terminal, highlighted the importance of Japanese companies’ involvement in this grand project. Ongoing intensive discussions between the Japanese consortium and airport authorities reinforce Japan’s commitment to fostering Bangladesh’s development through this strategic partnership, aiming for mutual prosperity.
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The 44th ODA loan package specifically targets the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Expansion Project (Phase III). The terms include an interest rate of 1.30% per annum, with a repayment period of 20 years following a grace period of 10 years, as outlined by the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka. This agreement marks a pivotal step in enhancing Dhaka’s status as a key aviation hub in the region.
Japan will continue to make concrete efforts like Terminal 3 that strengthen regional connectivity: Vice-Minister
Japan has said it will continue to make concrete efforts, like Terminal 3 of Dhaka airport, that contribute to strengthening connectivity for the sake of "peace, stability and prosperity" of the region and the international community.
“Located at the nexus of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, Bangladesh is an important partner in realizing the Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Komura Masahiro, said today (October 07, 2023).
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He was speaking at a soft opening ceremony of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s (HSIA) Terminal 3 with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the chief guest.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Md. Mahbub Ali, and other ministers and officials were present at the ceremony.
Japan’s Vice-Minister for International Affairs of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Uehara Atsushi; and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Iwama Kiminori, also attended the ceremony.
At the ceremony, the Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs said: “I would like to congratulate the soft-opening of HSIA Terminal 3. Japan and Bangladesh have had a very close relationship since the establishment of diplomatic relations, as symbolized by the flags of both countries.”
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In April this year, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina launched a "Strategic Partnership" when she visited Japan.
"The new bilateral relations are progressing in a variety of areas, including defense equipment cooperation and joint research toward a possible EPA," he said.
In recent years, under the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt Initiative, Japan has been actively engaged in the development of major infrastructure to enhance regional connectivity, including Dhaka Metro Rail, Matarbari Deep Sea Port, and Dhaka Airport’s Terminal 3.
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In September this year, a direct flight connecting Dhaka and Tokyo, which both countries had been longing for, was also launched. "It is expected to further invigorate human traffic and contribute to further expansion of investment by Japanese companies," he said.
With promise to transform country’s aviation sector, Dhaka Airport’s Terminal 3 set for soft opening today
The much-anticipated third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, which promises to transform the face of the country’s aviation sector, is set to have its soft opening on Saturday morning (October 7).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will officially inaugurate the new terminal for the country’s leading international airport, that stands out as one of the most talked-about and exciting among all the ‘megaprojects’ undertaken by the AL-led government.
Rehearsals are currently underway on-site in preparation for the inauguration program. Once the prime minister has completed the formalities, a special flight operated by state-owned Biman Bangladesh will depart from Dhaka using the newly constructed third terminal. Ground handling services for this special flight will be provided by the airline.
Target set for Dhaka Airport Third Terminal's full functionality by December 2024: CAAB Chairman
Preparations for the inauguration are being carried out collaboratively by the Biman Bangladesh Airlines Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB). A Biman flight, BG371 to Kathmandu, has already departed twice from the terminal to rehearse for the opening, although immigration and other paperwork was not done there.
Talking to UNB ahead of the inauguration, Air Vice Marshal M. Mafidur Rahman, chairman of CAAB, said that approximately 90 percent of the construction of Terminal 3 has been completed under the Shahjalal International Airport Expansion Project (Phase I).
Apart from the main terminal, the cargo complex comprising both export and import facilities, is nearly complete, said the CAAB chairman: “The cargo complex is in its final stages and is expected to be operational by March or April.”
HSIA Terminal 3: Final preparations on course for Oct 7 inauguration
Security arrangements for the airport have been meticulously planned for Saturday’s soft opening.
“Our target is to make the terminal fully functional for passengers by December 2024. The work is progressing ahead of schedule, and we are confident that the terminal will be operational before the planned deadline,” he said.
Meanwhile Md. Shafiul Azim, managing director of Biman Bangladesh, told UNB the national flag carrier is fully prepared for the soft opening of Terminal 3.
“New equipment has been procured for the ground handling of Terminal-3, and international standard uniforms have been provided to the staff on duty. The airline conducted exercises, including ground handling, in preparation for the inauguration,” he said.
Terminal 3 is expected to provide a sea-change in terms of passenger experience and choice in a state-of-the-art setting. It starts with the 37 aircraft parking spaces, which has already seen some airlines that never flew to Bangladesh before, make queries to include Dhaka as a destination in the near future.
Soft opening of Dhaka airport’s 3rd terminal on Oct 7: CAAB Chief
The 26 boarding bridges (of which 12 are to be launched in October), along with 115 check-in counters, including 15 self-service, promise a breezier experience for anyone departing Dhaka, or flying in. .
The baggage handling system will be on the ground floor, departure lounge and boarding bridge on the second floor, and extensive duty-free shops and exit lounges.
Terminal 3 will have the capacity to serve 1.20 crore (12 million) passengers annually on its own, once fully operational. At present the airport is able to serve 80 lakh (8 million) passengers in a year. A multi-storey car parking facility, customs hall, VIP and VVIP passenger areas, and a transit passenger lounge are also part of the terminal's offerings.
The three-storey terminal, designed by Rohani Baharin of internationally renowned CPG Corporation (Private) Limited Singapore, will have a floor space of 230,000 square metres. Baharin’s CV includes the acclaimed third terminal of Singapore’s Changi Airport, as well as Ahmedabad’s new international airport.
The second phase of the project will involve constructing a corridor and the multi-level car parking building with 1,350 parking spaces.
In terms of passenger convenience, the new terminal will introduce automated passport control or e-gates, reducing wait times. Passengers can choose self-immigration through the e-gates or opt for assistance at one of 56 exit immigration counters. A modern fire-fighting system and advanced security screening process will enhance safety measures.
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The terminal will also include movie lounges, food courts, airline lounges, and world class duty-free shops. Facilities like Wi-Fi, mobile charging, prayer areas, and a Meeters and Greeters Plaza are thrown in for good measure.
Additionally, special arrangements have been made for mothers, including breastfeeding booths, diaper-changing areas, and a family bathroom. Children will have a dedicated play area.
The project, originally with an estimated cost of Tk 13,610.47 crore, got the nod of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in October, 2017. However, the cost rose substantially later on as the entire vision changed and it was decided to go for a world class facility with the potential to transform the aviation sector in the long term. The final cost approved for the project stands at Tk 21,400 crore.
JICA, the Japanese government’s international development agency, has been helming the project as the main financier, with a consortium of three leading international firms - Mitsubishi, Samsung C & T (the construction arm of Samsung) and Fujita JV - contracted to implement it. It marked the first and till now only project in Bangladesh for Samsung C & T, the firm behind such international landmarks as the Burj Khalifa, Taipei 101, and the Petronas Towers, among others.
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