Govt to open Dhaka airport’s third terminal by 16 Dec or early New Year

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the government had decided to open the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka either on 16 December this year or at the beginning of the New Year.

He made the announcement this morning (23 April) following a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat.

The HSIA Third terminal spans around 542,000 square metres and is designed to handle an additional 12–16 million passengers annually along with nearly 900,000 tonnes of cargo, significantly expanding Dhaka airport’s capacity.

Earlier, Bangladesh and Japan held a bilateral meeting on 3 April to discuss the operation and maintenance of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, though a final agreement has yet to be reached.

Both sides discussed a revised proposal presented by the Japanese side regarding the operation and maintenance of the third terminal, according to a press release from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

Key issues included the airport’s embarkation fee, upfront payment, and revenue-sharing arrangements.

State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat urged the Japanese representatives to reconsider Bangladesh’s position and submit a revised proposal.

Both sides also discussed holding another meeting soon to move the process forward.

The meeting took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun in attendance.

The third terminal has remained non-operational for around one and half years due to disagreements over management and revenue-sharing arrangements between the CAAB and the Japanese consortium.

The consortium includes Japan Airport Terminal Company, Sumitomo Corporation, Nippon Koei, and Narita International Airport Corporation.

Industry insiders have criticised the delay, attributing it to policy indecision under the previous interim administration, which left a major national asset idle.

After assuming office, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman directed authorities to resume negotiations with Japan, leading to renewed discussions, including a meeting held on 13 March at the foreign ministry.

Aviation experts say operationalising the third terminal is crucial for easing congestion at Dhaka airport and advancing Bangladesh’s ambition to become a regional aviation hub.