Dhaka Airport’s Third Terminal Set for Dec 16 Opening

The government plans to open the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on December 16 this year, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said on Tuesday.

The minister made the announcement while speaking to journalists after inspecting the terminal.

Millat said the government wants to make the facility operational, at least partially, on December 16. The terminal was previously inaugurated during the Awami League government, but only the building was formally opened and full operations were not launched.

He said the terminal still requires several facilities and systems to become fully operational, including internet connectivity and the installation and management of necessary equipment.

The minister also said the government had renegotiated the revenue-sharing arrangement with the Japanese consortium involved in operating the terminal.

Under the previous arrangement, Bangladesh was to receive 15 percent of the revenue, while the Japanese side would receive 85 percent. Following several rounds of negotiations, Bangladesh’s share was raised to 27 percent, he said.

Millat said the higher revenue share would help the government repay the loan taken for the terminal’s construction from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

He said repayment of the terminal’s loan instalments had already begun using revenue from other Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh sources.

“Tk 1,100 crore has already been paid, and another Tk 900 crore will have to be paid in December,” he said.

If the terminal remains non-operational, the government will have to continue servicing the loan from revenues generated by other sectors, Millat added.

The government has been working with Japanese partners to resolve long-standing issues over the terminal’s operation, management and revenue-sharing arrangements. The terminal has remained non-operational for an extended period despite its earlier inauguration.

The government has previously said it aims to begin passenger services on a limited scale before gradually expanding the terminal’s operations.