Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the "soft opening" ceremony of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in Bangladesh's aviation sector.
During the inauguration, she unveiled a commemorative plaque, emphasizing her vision for Bangladesh to become an international aviation hub.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stated, "Bangladesh's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Cox's Bazar International Airport will serve as international aviation hubs due to their strategic geographical locations." She pointed out that historically, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai have held the title of international aviation hubs, but Bangladesh's unique position between East and West air routes positions it to become the next global aviation hub.
The Prime Minister affirmed her government's commitment to upgrading the aviation sector to achieve this goal. The third terminal's soft opening is part of this comprehensive effort to enhance passenger services and security in Bangladesh's aviation industry.
The event was attended by State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Ali, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Masahiro Komura, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Mokammel Hossain, and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman. Japan's Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Saito Tetsuo, was also present.
After inaugurating the terminal, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina toured the facility, gaining insights into its various sections. She even participated in a dress rehearsal of the immigration process, checked in her luggage, and received a boarding pass. Additionally, a video documentary showcasing the third terminal's features and another one highlighting the Civil Aviation Authority's activities were screened during the event.
The opening of the third terminal at HSIA is a significant step toward transforming Bangladesh into a global aviation hub, which will not only boost tourism but also contribute significantly to the country's economy.
Several foreign airlines are considering starting operations from HSIA in Dhaka ahead of the terminal's full operation. This development is expected to play a pivotal role in advancing Bangladesh's aviation sector. Currently, 90% of the third terminal's construction has been completed, and it is expected to be fully operational for passengers by the end of next year.
The third terminal boasts a spacious and aesthetically pleasing design, with 12 boarding gates featuring double entry bridges set to be operational next year. An additional 14 boarding bridges will be installed later. The project, costing Taka 21,300 crore, began on December 28, 2019, with the government contributing Taka 5,000 crore and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) providing the remaining funding.
Once the third terminal is fully operational, the annual passenger and cargo handling capacity of Dhaka Airport is expected to double. The HSIA's annual passenger handling capacity will increase from eight million to 24 million, and the airport will have the capability to handle 500,000 tonnes of cargo each year.
The construction work on 37 new aircraft parking areas and two taxiways connecting to the apron area has already been completed. The third terminal is designed to seamlessly connect with a multimodal transport system, including an elevated expressway, an underground railway (MRT-5, Kamalapur to airport portion), and the airport railway station through an underground tunnel.
Furthermore, hajj pilgrims will have access to the third terminal from Ashkona hajj camp through an underground tunnel. It is anticipated that a Japanese company will operate and maintain the third terminal under a public-private partnership arrangement.
News/Abu jakir
