3rd terminal on track for Dec launch

Bangladesh has sought Japan’s assistance in ensuring the timely completion of the long-awaited Third Terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, as the government remains committed to opening the facility on 16 December this year.

Speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the issue featured prominently during recent discussions between Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister and the Japanese Ambassador.

“One of the key issues discussed with the Japanese Ambassador was the opening of our Third Terminal,” Millat said.

He noted that the government aims to inaugurate the terminal on Victory Day and that the target date was reaffirmed during recent engagements with Japanese officials.

“We want to inaugurate it on 16 December. Japan’s Minister for Aviation Infrastructure also visited recently, and it was agreed that, following discussions with Sumitomo, the terminal would be opened on that date,” he said.

According to the State Minister, Dhaka has requested Tokyo’s support in encouraging Sumitomo Corporation, a major stakeholder in the project, to complete the remaining work within the agreed timeframe.

“We have asked the Japanese Ambassador to exert some pressure on Sumitomo so that the work can be completed within the deadline,” Millat said.

He added that the Request for Proposal (RFP) process is already underway and that 19 July has been set as the deadline for submitting documents required for the signing of the contract.

“If they confirm by 19 July, we will be able to start the ORAT process through Nippon Koei,” he said, referring to the Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) programme, a key preparatory phase before the terminal becomes fully operational.

Millat said Nippon Koei, which is already working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), is prepared to begin ORAT activities once assurances are received that the contract will be signed on schedule.

“The plan is to move forward with the preparatory work even before the formal signing of the contract,” he said.

The State Minister stressed that there had been no change to the government’s target date for opening the terminal.

“The 16 December deadline remains unchanged, and the Japanese Ambassador has confirmed this,” he said.

The Third Terminal is one of Bangladesh’s largest aviation infrastructure projects and is expected to significantly expand passenger-handling capacity, improve service standards and strengthen the country’s position as a regional aviation hub.

The latest engagement with Japan highlights the close cooperation between Dhaka and Tokyo on major infrastructure projects and underscores Bangladesh’s efforts to ensure the terminal is ready for operation by the end of the year.