City Desk :
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Faruk Khan on Thursday said the newly built third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) will be fully operational by the end of this year.
“I am satisfied with the progress… It is likely to be fully operational by the end of this year or early next year,” he told reporters at a briefing after visiting the new state-of-the art terminal in the capital, reports BSS.
The minister said the work on the new terminal is progressing within the stipulated time frame, despite the tough time caused due to the pandemic and global economic downturn.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the soft launch of the third terminal on October 7 last year. The project, involving Tk 21,300 crore, commenced on December 28, 2019.
Replying to a question, the minister said construction of a dependable second runway for HSIA is under consideration to ensure the optimum use of the new terminal.
About the ground handling of the HSIA, Khan said Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which has been enjoying the monopoly on that, will manage the ground operation under a joint venture with a reputed global service provider chosen by the Japanese consortium.