One of the country's most admired and respected journalists, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, has said he was harassed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport recently - both while departing for and returning from an international media conference.  Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus ordered an investigation into the incident as soon as it was brought to his attention, Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said Saturday. "We sincerely regret the incident. The interim government will not tolerate harassment of any journalists in the country," Azad added, before describing Nurul Kabir as a "top champion of journalistic integrity during his long career." On Saturday, Kabir took to his verified Facebook page to report that contrary to his own expectations, the harassment he was used to facing at the country's main international airport for the last 20 years, had surprisingly doubled during a recent trip abroad to attend a news and media conference.  "On November 18, as I was going abroad for a media conference, I expected that my days of harassment (sic) at the Dhaka airport were over, at least for sometime," he wrote, glumly adding: "I was wrong." Read: OCAB demands withdrawal of cancellation of accreditation for journalistsHe then alludes to the latest incident, or incidents: "It has been rather doubled this time. One hour while departing and one hour while returning home on November 22." Previously, in the twenty years referenced earlier, he said he had never faced any trouble "while returning home"- distinguishing the latest incident from what he experienced in the past. Kabir helmed New Age as one of the very few voices that strongly and consistently spoke truth to power during the highly repressive Awami League regime that ruled the country from 2009-2024. Outspoken almost to a fault, he also became a highly popular television commentator for his forthright views and acerbic tongue, before being allegedly 'blacklisted' by AL that saw a largely pliant industry whittle down their invitations for him to appear on their channel. 

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

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. Read more: Visitors on Hajj visa prohibited from traveling outside Jeddah, Medina, and Mecca: Saudi Ministry

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. Hasan Mahmud to attend OIC Summit in Gambia 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. Read more: Bangladesh, Austria agree to conclude MoU on migration, mobility

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.

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. US Bangla Group launches new venture ‘Take Trip’ travel agency 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. US Bangla offers special Bangkok package 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. US Bangla to operate Dhaka-Male flights 6 days a week from Oct 31 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.

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. London-bound Biman makes emergency landing in Sofia to save ailing passenger 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. Air force trainer aircraft makes emergency landing in Bogura: ISPR 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.

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. Govt plans to introduce automatic fuel price adjustment in next two months: Nasrul Hamid 

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. Read: Reception Lounge set up at Dhaka Airport for int'l observers, journalists  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. Read: About 300 Indian travelers stuck in French airport in a human trafficking probe  Air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may disrupt due to thick fog, it said.

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). Is Dhaka ready for a Westeros Winter? 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.  Penalty for code of conduct violation depends on investigation report: EC Sultana 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.