Japanese consortium to manage only 3rd terminal, Sept deal likely: CAAB

An agreement with a Japanese consortium to operate the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is likely to be signed by the end of August or the first week of September, a senior Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) official said today (20 July).

Air Commodore Abu Sayeed Mehboob Khan, CAAB’s member (Operations and Planning), disclosed the timeline while responding to questions from reporters at the CAAB headquarters.

“Under the agreement, the Japanese will operate only the third terminal. They will have no opportunity to operate the first and second terminals,” he said.

Mehboob Khan said the authority is aiming to inaugurate the third terminal on 16 December, subject to the completion of all remaining formalities.

He said construction work at the terminal is nearing completion and, if everything proceeds as planned, the facility will be inaugurated in December.

“The agreement with the Japanese company will be signed before the inauguration. The final decision on the opening will be taken after that,” he added.

The CAAB official also said the authority is tightening enforcement against unauthorised drone operations around the airport because of security concerns.

He urged drone operators to familiarise themselves with the applicable rules and regulations before flying drones in or near the airport area.

CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mostafa Mahmud Siddique was present during the briefing.