Photo: Collected-
Metropolis Desk-
The third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is set to be soft launched on 7 October, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman.
The terminal, which can handle 24 million passengers and 500,000 tonnes of cargo per year, is expected to be open to passengers at the end of next year.
The project, which cost Tk21,300 crore, began in December 2019 and is expected to be open to the public by April 2024. The terminal is currently under construction, with interior decoration and equipment installation ongoing.
The terminal will have sophisticated features, including natural light and a high ceiling. Biman Bangladesh Airlines is responsible for ground handling at Dhaka and other airports but will finalize a deal with a suitable Japanese company in the middle of next year.
The CAAB will handle these tasks until then. Japan will be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the new terminal, with a transitional advisor appointed to determine the terms and conditions for interested Japanese companies.
The terminal is expected to double Dhaka Airport’s annual passenger and cargo handling capacity, accommodating around 24 million passengers and 500,000 tonnes of cargo annually.
