Upgrading Airport: Why a Cautious Strategy Matters Most
ALTHOUGH the target date for the inauguration of the Third Terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has been set for December 16, a deadlock surrounding its operation and maintenance contract has raised concerns.
A report published in a national daily on Friday revealed that four stringent conditions imposed by a Japanese consortium regarding the contract to operate this modern, international-standard terminal are hindering the overall progress of the negotiations.
The absence of parallel discussions with alternative foreign operators from the outset has left the Civil Aviation Authority in a relatively weak bargaining position, creating challenges for safeguarding national interests during the implementation of the agreement.
Needless to say, such uncertainty regarding the operational framework, especially when the project’s infrastructure is nearing completion and the repayment of loan installments has already commenced, is entirely undesirable.
It should be noted that the long-term financial and operational success of a mega-project largely depends on the well-considered and balanced terms established during the initial stages.
In particular, unresolved issues, such as the revenue-sharing ratio, the allocation of commercial risks related to ground handling, requests for special legal indemnities, and the duration of the ‘defect liability period’, are matters directly linked to the national interest.
Proposals to reduce the nation’s revenue by more than half within the first eight months of operations are entirely contrary to Bangladesh’s sovereign legal position.
Under these circumstances, if a hasty agreement is signed, it is the nation’s aviation sector, and ultimately its people, who will have to bear the long-term consequences.
More important than the number of flights that will take off or land on the opening day is how seamlessly, safely, and effectively the terminal can deliver world-class services once it becomes operational.
We believe that, rather than focusing on meeting a specific inauguration date — such as Victory Day — the government’s primary priority should be to ensure the country’s long-term economic and legal security.
Complete transparency must be maintained in any discussions with international investors or consortia.
Therefore, it would be imprudent to leave any ambiguity whatsoever regarding the commercial protection of Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ ground-handling capabilities, the associated liabilities, or the revenue due to the airline.
It must be remembered that Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is a vital symbol of our national prestige, a driver of economic prosperity, and a crucial gateway for global connectivity.
It is expected that the government and relevant authorities, through far-sighted diplomacy and rigorous scrutiny, will be able to secure a profitable, balanced, and dignified agreement — thereby safeguarding national interests while ensuring the Third Terminal becomes operational as quickly as possible.
