The Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) is owed Tk 1223 crore by four private airlines. Out of these four airlines, three are currently closed. The amount the three closed airlines owe is over Tk 1192 crore. This information was divulged in the meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism on Sunday (September 17, 2023) held at the Sangsad Bhaban. Also read: Irregularities in leasing Egypt Air planes: ACC questions 7 CAAB officials The Parliamentary Committee on Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism wanted to know how much money CAAB owes or is owed  in their dealings with domestic private airlines companies. CAAB gave a report in this regard in the parliamentary standing committee meeting today with its chairman RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury in the chair. According to the sources, CAAB in its report said that it is owed a total of Tk 1,222.98 crore by Regent Airways, Novo Air, United Airways and GMG Airlines. Among them, only Novo Air still flies. As of last May, two other private airlines, US Bangla and Air Astra, both of which are still in business, have no debt.  Also read: Civil Aviation Ministry asked to take action against CAAB officials for irregularities CAAB is owed more than Tk 408 crore by Regent Airways, while GMG Airlines owes more than Tk 396 crore. CAAB is owed Tk 388.97 crore by United Airways and from Novo Air it is owed Tk 29.48crore. After the meeting, a press release of the Parliament Secretariat informed that the parliamentary committee has recommended taking necessary measures to collect the money owed by the private airlines. Meanwhile, the report of the sub-committee on the investigation of the Hotel Intercontinental renovation project which was presented in the previous meeting of the committee was in the discussion list of today’s meeting. The report claimed that it was not needed to spend exorbitantly on the renovation works. Also read:  ACC finds 19 areas of corruption in Biman, Caab Government money has been unnecessarily spent for the benefit of certain people, the report said. According to the report, the rooms of 26 square meters has been increased to 40 square meters. As a result, the number of rooms was reduced to 226 from 272. The report claims that this was not necessary. Apart from this, the committee recommended to widen the road from Cox's Bazar airport to the city on an urgent basis and improve its beauty, maintain the cleanliness of the beach and implement the activities with mutual coordination. The committee members Mosharraf Hossain, Ashek Ullah, Syeda Rubina Akhtar, Kaniz Fatema Ahmed were present in the meeting.

Preparations are underway for the inauguration of the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, or Terminal 3 - one of the most exciting and potentially transformative projects undertaken by the Awami League-led governments across three electoral cycles.  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the first phase of the project on October 7. However, the full utilisation of the terminal by passengers is expected at the end of 2024. This is due to the necessary calibration and preparation of the equipment used in terminal operations, which is projected to take up most of 2024. The chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Air Vice Marshal Mafidur Rahman,confirmed to UNB that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will officially open the terminal with the usual fanfare associated with the inauguration of megaprojects under the present dispensation, on October 7. Govt will decide on ground handling at Dhaka airport’s third terminal and Biman is ready: CEO “The preparation for the inauguration is in its final stages. Structure of the terminal is ready, and now equipment is being installed,” said AVM Mofidur. He further stated that airlines will be able to use the new parking apron and taxiway . The old terminal's apron can accommodate 29 aircraft, but after the soft opening, the third terminal's apron will be able to accommodate an additional 8 to 10 aircraft. What sets Terminal 3 apart The CAAB chairman said 37 aircraft can be parked at a time once the terminal – with an area of 5,42,000 square meters – is fully opened. There will be 26 boarding bridges. Of these, 12 boarding bridges will be opened in October. There will be a total of 115 check-in counters (including 15 self-service check-in counters) for exits, according to CAAB. In addition, there will be 10 self-service passport control counters for immigration, along with 66 external immigration counters. For arriving passengers, there will be 5 self-service check-in counters, making a total of 59 counters. Currently, the existing terminal has 8 baggage belts, while the Third Terminal will have 16 baggage belts for arriving passengers. There will be separate belts for oversized luggage. Soft opening of Dhaka airport’s 3rd terminal on Oct 7: CAAB Chief The chairman mentioned that a multilevel car parking building with 1,350 parking spaces will be constructed for car parking at Terminal 3. Below the new terminal, there will be a baggage handling system, and on the second floor, there will be an arrival lounge, a cantina, and boarding bridges, according to CAAB. Additionally, there will be a Duty-Free shop and an arrival lounge nearby. The total area of the third terminal building is going to be 230,000 square metres, with a capacity of handling 12 million passengers annually. The baggage handling area is 54,000 square metres, and the fire-fighting station with equipment covers 4,000 square metres. The import cargo terminal is 27,000 square metres, and the export cargo terminal is 36,000 square metres. The connecting taxiway is 66,500 square metres. 12 boarding bridges will be operational when Dhaka Airport’s 3rd Terminal partially opens this Oct: CAAB There are two rapid exit taxiways, covering 41,500 square metres. Furthermore, the airport will have associated road connections, an elevated expressway, and the necessary equipment (automated warehouses) for passenger and cargo handling. All these activities are currently underway. Additionally, there will be a hall and six channels for customs for passengers arriving from other countries. VIP services have been arranged for VIP passengers. In the southern part of the Third Terminal, there is a 3,650-square-metre area dedicated to VIP and VIP passenger services. A large lounge has been constructed for transit passengers in the new terminal. It will serve 40,00,000 passengers annually. However, there will be no direct connection with the old two terminals for now. A corridor will be constructed in the second phase of the project. According to the CAAB chairman, 120–130 aircraft from over 30 airlines takeoff and land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's first and second terminals every day. About 20,000 passengers use the airport's two terminals every day. As a result, the HSIA currently has the capacity to serve about 80 lakh passengers annually. Fakhrul returns from Singapore, complains of harassment at airport With the opening of the third terminal, it will be possible to serve another 12 million passengers, he said. Once Terminal 3 , passengers will be able to avail the following facilities: Self-immigration facilities The new terminal building will feature a total of 10 automatic passport control stations or e-gates at the departure area. This innovative system allows passengers to complete the immigration process independently, eliminating the need to interact with immigration authorities. Nevertheless, for those passengers who prefer not to handle immigration procedures independently, there will be 56 exit immigration counters staffed by immigration officials ready to assist them. Additionally, there will be 5 e-gates available for passengers arriving in Bangladesh from other countries, and 54 arrival immigration counters to ensure a smooth entry process. State-of-the-art scanning systems for security Currently, passengers undergo manual security checks at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. However, this practice is set to change. In the future, security checks will be entirely automated, eliminating the need for physical contact during the screening process right up until the passengers aboard the plane. As a part of this streamlined procedure, passengers will be required to raise both hands inside the body scanner machine. This advancement is expected to result in significant time savings for both passengers and airport security personnel. Less commuting hassles for passengers Once the terminal officially opens, passengers will experience seamless travel transitions to and from the airport. This is attributed to the on-going construction of underground tunnels and flyovers in conjunction with the third terminal building, which will significantly enhance travel convenience.  Passengers will have effortless access to ground transportation, including convenient connections to the metro rail and Dhaka Elevated Expressway, facilitating swift departures and arrivals. Moreover, the terminal will be equipped with a state-of-the-art international-quality firefighting system to ensure passenger safety. GP customers to enjoy roaming services at Dhaka airport Other facilities include: To cater to passengers' needs during transit, a range of amenities is being introduced. These include movie lounges and food courts designed to enhance the passenger experience. Additionally, airline lounges and dayrooms will be available for travellers seeking comfort and relaxation. Furthermore, 14 duty-free shops will be strategically placed throughout the terminal, offering passengers opportunities for both leisurely strolls and shopping. Passengers can expect to find an array of amenities such as food courts, food galleries, Wi-Fi connectivity, and mobile charging facilities, both within and outside the terminal. To accommodate passengers' religious needs, separate prayer areas will be designated for men and women. The new terminal will also feature a dedicated "meeters and greeters plaza" to facilitate the welcoming of visitors. The lounge will provide a dedicated breastfeeding booth, diaper-changing facilities, and a spacious family bathroom. Additionally, a children's play area equipped with sleeper swings will be available for young travellers to enjoy. Passengers at the new terminal will have access to 24-hour medical care, including health inspection services staffed by doctors, first-aid rooms for immediate medical assistance, testing centres, and isolation areas for various diseases, including COVID-19. Back in 2017, the government initiated the Terminal 3 project for Dhaka’s main airport. However, work on the construction of the terminal commenced on December 28, 2019. This ambitious and visionary project has been estimated to cost approximately Tk 21,398 crore. Notably, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA, is providing Tk 16,141 crore in the form of a loan to support the project, while the Government of Bangladesh is coughing up the remaining Tk 5,257 crore. The highly coveted contract for construction of HSIA Terminal 3 was won by a consortium made up of 3 of Asia’s leading firms in the sector: Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, as well as Fujita Corporation, and South Korean behemoth Samsung C&T Corporation ("Construction & Trading Corporation”). Where was the CCTV camera? Investigators wonder about missing gold at Dhaka Airport customs

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal will have its soft opening on October 7. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the new terminal. Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Mafidur Rahman, chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), said this during a press conference on Tuesday (August 08, 2023) noon at the under-construction third terminal. Read: 12 boarding bridges will be operational when Dhaka Airport’s 3rd Terminal partially opens this Oct: CAAB “We were informed yesterday (August 7) by the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) that the premier will inaugurate the third terminal at a soft opening on October 7,” the CAAB chief said. However, he said, passengers will be able to fully use the third terminal by the end of 2024. Read: Groundhandling contract for Terminal 3 will go to Japan: CAAB chairman “We want to complete 90 percent of the third terminal project before October 7, and we are optimistic that the work will be finished ahead of schedule,” added the CAAB chairman.

The third terminal of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will be partially opened by October this year, and it is set to be fully operational next year, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Mafidur Rahman told UNB on Sunday (August 06, 2023). The construction of the terminal is currently in its final stage and over 85 percent work has been completed, he said. Once fully operational, the new Dhaka airport terminal, covering an area of 5,42,000 square metres,  will be capable of serving more than one crore passengers annually, the CAAB chairman added. State of the art amenities will also be offered to passengers. Read: Groundhandling contract for Terminal 3 will go to Japan: CAAB chairman “As construction is in its final stage, the magnificent architecture of the third terminal building is now visible. Currently, work on interior decoration and installation of various types of equipment is going on,” the CAAB chief informed UNB. 2 CRORE PASSENGERS WILL BE ABLE TO USE DHAKA AIRPORT EVERY YEAR The CAAB chairman said that currently 120-130 planes of over 30 airlines take off from and land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. “Every day about 20,000 passengers use the two terminals of the airport. As such, Dhaka airport serves around 80 lakh (8 million) passengers annually. It will be possible to serve an additional 1.2 crore passengers when the third terminal is opened,” he said.

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman has said that the expansion and modernization works of all 8 airports – international and domestic – in the country, involving Tk 35,850 crore, will be completed by the end of the current year. “Once the work is completed, there will be major changes in infrastructures of the airports. All the airports will be equipped with modern amenities, and they will get an attractive look,” the CAAB chief told UNB in an exclusive interview recently. Work is going on in full swing to implement the projects as per the instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said, adding that the engineers of CAAB worked round the clock even during the Covid-19 pandemic. “We have ensured the quality of the work and maintained European standard in terms of equipment and safety materials,” he added. “More than 70 percent work of the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka has been completed and the operational activities of the new terminal will be inaugurated in October this year. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the third terminal,” he said. Read more: Domestic airports are getting face-lift to offer quality services to passengers: CAAB “After completion of the third terminal, passenger handling capacity at Dhaka airport will increase from 10 million to 22 million. Besides, cargo handling capacity will rise from 2.20 lakh ton to 7 lakh ton,” the CAAB chairman added. He said that passengers will be able to avail international standard services once the third terminal opens. Construction work of 73,548 square meter cargo apron of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is now underway. Eighty-five percent of the project has been completed and after implementation, the apron will be able to park additional 4 long-range cargo aircraft. Read more: World-class third terminal of Dhaka Airport to be visible by Dec: CAAB Besides, the construction of general aviation hangar, hangar apron and fire station expansion project at Dhaka airport, at a cost of Tk 430 crore, is on.

A trolleyman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) was detained with four gold bars worth Tk32 lakh at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram Saturday, authorities said. The detainee was identified as Md Ismail of Hathazari upazila. Read: Man held with Tk. 1.8 crore worth gold On information, Ismail was held at the parking area of the airport around 10:30am, Wing Commander M Farhad Hossain Khan, director of Shah Amanat Airport, said. The gold bars were seized from the bags he was carrying on his trolley, he added. "Legal actions will be taken against Ismail."

Speakers at seminar on ‘Prospect of Bangladesh as Regional Aviation Hub’ have suggested the government to improve the services at the country’s domestic and international airports.They said only improvement in aviation services could attract the foreign tourists that would play vital role to turn Bangladesh into a regional aviation hub.Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Vice Marshall M. Mafidur Rahman, presiding over the function, said after completion of the construction of third terminal of the Shah Jalal International Airport, aviation passengers will see a substantial improvement in the services.“We will maintain international standard in our service… We’ve already appointed foreign consultants in this regard’, he told the seminar, held on the sideline of the international travel and tourism fair titled : Triplover Dhaka Travel Mart-2022, at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the city. Also read: Bangladesh to be turned into a global aviation hub: Hasina Organised by The Bangladesh Monitor the seminar was also addressed by Md. Abdullah Al Mamun, Managing Director of US-Bangla Airlines; Mofizur Rahman, Managing Director of Novoair; and A T M Nazrul Islam, Managing Director of United Airways Bangladesh Ltd.Representatives from different stakeholders of the country’s aviation industry including regulators, airlines, concerned apex trade bodies, aviation experts, and aviation reporters also spoke on the occasion.The participants mainly discussed on the existing hurdles and opportunities in development of Bangladesh aviation sector, and how to harness the potentials in establishing Bangladesh as a regional aviation hub, in line with the aspiration of the nation. Also read: Aviation sector growth to triple in next 15 years: State Minister Kazi Wahidul Alam, Editor The Bangladesh Monitor, moderated the session.

Customs officials held a cleaning staff of Civil Aviation authority, Bangladesh on Thursday carrying 36 pieces of gold bars weighing 41.76 kg at Hazrat Shahjalal international Airport in Dhaka. The detainee is Mohammad Surujuzzaman, employed by the CAAB at the airport. Following a tip off, a preventive team of customs officials of Dhaka Customs House challenged Surujuzzaman at 11:30 am in front of the arrival health counter of the airport as his movement was suspicious. READ: Domestic airports are getting face-lift to offer quality services to passengers: CAAB The gold bars were recovered from the pockets of his pants covered with scotch tapes. Each bar weighed 116 grams and the total worth of the bar will be around Tk 3 crore at current market price, said the customs officials. READ: World-class third terminal of Dhaka Airport to be visible by Dec: CAAB Md Abu Sayeed, Assistant Revenue Officer (preventive) of Dhaka Customs House filed a case in this regard at the airport police station under the Customs Act, 1969.

Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) has taken initiatives to modernise and expand all domestic airports of the country as well as the quality of passenger services. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, measures have been taken to modernize and expand the domestic terminals of seven airports in the country. Apart from three international airports- Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka, Shah Amanat International Airport, Chattogram and Osmani International Airport, Sylhet there are domestic airports in Cox's Bazar,  Rajshahi, Saidpur, Nilphamari and Barisal. Steps to modernise all domestic airports in phases Asked about all initiatives, CAAB Chairman Air vice Marshal M Mofizur Rahman told UNB that work is underway to enhance the quality of passenger services at the seven domestic airports, including the domestic terminal at Shahjalal International Airport. He said that the number of passengers on domestic flights has increased a lot in the country at present. Work on the landing terminal at Dhaka Airport has already started. "We hope that the expansion work will be completed soon. Everything else will be done quickly." The chairman said there is a plan to expand the domestic terminal of Dhaka airport by the middle of this year. The work on expanding the domestic terminal will be completed in Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport first. READ: Parliamentary body visits Cox’s Bazar Airport project A budget has been earmarked for phasing out the domestic terminal buildings of all other airports in the same manner. Permission has already been sought from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. The internal terminal will be further modernized. Besides, the work of transforming Cox's Bazar Airport into an International airport is going on and the domestic terminal will be more modernized there. According to CAAB, the initiative has been taken to handle the increasing pressure of domestic passengers as well as to enhance the quality of services. A 8,000 sq ft floor is being constructed on the second floor of the old terminal building inside Dhaka airport. Half of that floor will have two international standard lines and the other half will have passenger seats and other facilities. There will be an air conditioning system with elevators. READ: Dhaka airport's 3rd terminal to 'boost' trade He further said modern scanning machines, security equipment, two international standard lounges, seating capacity of more than 300 passengers, smoking zone, diaper changing station and mothers' corner will be set up at the domestic terminal at Dhaka Airport. Increasing pressure on domestic flights In this regard, the State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali told UNB that steps have been taken to modernize and expand all domestic airports in the country further as per the directives of the prime minister to enhance the quality of passenger services at airports in line with various countries in the world. He said, "Domestic flights within the country's existing passenger transport system have been increasing at a significant rate in the last few years. The people of the country are now much more economically advanced." Foreigners, businesspeople, and tourists are traveling more on domestic flights to save time, so the number of passengers is increasing day by day. That is why the project has been taken with emphasis on all domestic airport works, he added. He said the waiting time of passengers at the domestic terminal in Dhaka will be made comfortable with more facilities. All the domestic airports in the country will be arranged properly. "We have taken the initiative to provide all the facilities of the international airport to be available in the domestic airports too," he added. According to CAAB, the security arrangements at the internal terminal are being further updated. Internal terminals will be equipped with security equipment to prevent crime. Security will be further strengthened on all routes. Services need to be enhanced both in airports and airlines Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines and NovoAir operate domestic flights. However, US-Bangla Airlines has the largest number of flights. Kamrul Islam, General Manager (Public Relations) of US-Bangla Airlines, told UNB that the number of passengers on domestic flights has increased by almost 300 per cent in 7-8 years. Passenger facilities have not increased accordingly and the quality of passenger service has remained the same, he said. He said airlines should not just increase the quality of passenger service. The airport must also have quality of service. In all, both airports and airlines must provide the same quality services to passengers. He said passenger lounges have been set up in Dhaka, Cox's Bazar and Rajshahi. Similarly, the quality of passenger service needs to be enhanced with all facilities including passenger lounges at all other domestic airports.

Braving the pandemic, the work on the construction of the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is progressing in full swing with officials saying that parts of the much-awaited building will be visible by December this year. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh informed that already 22 percent of construction work has been completed and it is expected to gain momentum now that Covid-19 infections are on the wane. CAAB  Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mafidur Rahman told UNB that the construction of the 3rd terminal would be completed on time. Read BGMEA wants better cargo handling services at Dhaka airport “The progress of the work is very satisfactory,” he said. “The construction work is moving on faster than anticipated. The project will be visible from the outside within December this year,” he said. State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Ali told UNB that the terminal, designed by renowned architect Rohani Baharin, will match the world’s most modern airports. Also read: PM inaugurates construction of Dhaka airport’s ‘Third Terminal’ Rohani is famous for her works with Changi International Airport’s Terminal 3, Wuhan Tianhe Terminal 2, Guanghzhou Baiyun New International Airport, Ahmedabad International Airport, New Islamabad International Airport, Can Tho and Phu Quoc International Airports. The state minister said that the construction work is moving faster than the draft plan which makes them hopeful that it can be inaugurated before the scheduled time, which is 2023. He said that even during the onslaught of Covid, the construction work didn’t stop for a single day and around 4,000 national and international workers are working on the project maintaining all the Covid safety protocols. Read Cox's Bazar Airport set to get a spectacular maritime runway