3 advisers visit HSIA’s Third Terminal
Staff Reporter :
Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, and Energy Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan on Thursday visited the Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) to assess progress of the country’s flagship aviation infrastructure project.
The advisers inspected the newly constructed, technologically advanced terminal and received detailed briefings on its current status and operational preparedness .
Once commissioned, the Third Terminal is expected to be a game-changer for Bangladesh’s aviation sector, dramatically increasing both passenger and cargo handling capacities.
After their inspection, the delegation participated in a presentation session at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) headquarters. Officials there outlined the major components of the expansion initiative and shared insights into its future operational framework.
Ashiq Chowdhury, chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), joined the session via virtual link.
Also in attendance were Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Nasreen Jahan, and CAAB Chairman Air Vice-Marshal Mohammad Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan, along with other senior government representatives. Back in April, the government constituted a six-member committee led by Energy Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan to formulate recommendations and oversee the operational strategy for the Third Terminal, particularly regarding ground handling services.
The committee comprises Civil Aviation Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, BIDA Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury, Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, Secretary Nasreen Jahan (serving as Member Secretary), and CAAB Chairman Air Vice-Marshal Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan.
Its mandate is to ensure the terminal operates at par with global benchmarks, offering world-class services to travelers both from home and abroad. Previously in January, CAAB reiterated its intention to make the terminal operational by the end of 2025.
“We are committed to opening the terminal within this year, no matter the challenges,” CAAB Chairman Air Vice-Marshal Bhuiyan stated at a press briefing on January 16.
The construction of the Third Terminal, which began on December 28, 2019, entails a total investment of Tk 21,300 crore. The government has allocated Tk 5,000 crore, while the remaining funds have been sourced from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Covering an area of 230,000 square meters, the terminal is equipped with 115 check-in counters, 66 departure immigration booths, 59 arrival immigration counters, and three VIP immigration desks.
