National
Dhaka Airport’s Third Terminal Full Completion by April 5th
The construction of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal is scheduled for full completion by April 5, with operations expected to commence fully by October. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) will assume control of the terminal once construction concludes, initiating the transition from old terminals to the new one through the Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) project.
Project Director AKM Maksudul Islam informed UNB that almost all construction, including civil engineering tasks, is nearing completion, with any remaining work anticipated to conclude in the first week of April. This ensures a smooth handover to CAAB by April 6. Islam mentioned preparations are underway for the full operational launch in October, including system integration and calibration tasks that have successfully undergone multiple evaluations.
CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman stated that the third terminal is nearly ready for flight operations and is expected to be fully functional by October. He emphasized that the completion of this terminal will significantly enhance Dhaka airport’s capacity, facilitating the growth of domestic and international airline operations, improving passenger amenities, increasing revenue, and enhancing overall efficiency.
Rahman highlighted the Prime Minister’s directive to expedite the project, noting that the work has been completed ahead of schedule, within the allocated budget, and without compromising quality. The third terminal, equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, aims to provide superior service quality for passengers, accommodating an increase in both domestic and international travelers to boost revenue.
The expansion of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, including the third terminal construction, was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council in October 2017, with the first revised development project proposal approved in December 2019 for BDT 21,399 crore. The construction contract was awarded to the Aviation Dhaka Consortium, including Japan’s Mitsubishi and Fujita, and South Korea’s Samsung, based on a design by architect Rohani Baharin.
Prime Minister Sheik Hasina’s soft opening of the third terminal on October 7, 2023, marked a significant milestone. Once fully completed, the new terminal will more than double Dhaka airport’s capacity and increase annual passenger throughput from 8 million to 20 million, transforming it into a bustling hub and boosting revenue.
Presently, Shahjalal International Airport operates with two terminals covering over 100,000 square meters. The addition of the third terminal will introduce an extra 230,000 square meters of space, featuring 115 check-in counters, 64 departure and 64 arrival immigration desks, enhanced security measures, including 27 baggage scanning machines, 40 scanning machines, 12 boarding bridges, 16 carousels, and 11 body scanners.
The third terminal will enable parking for 37 aircraft simultaneously and includes two high-speed taxiways to reduce runway wait times, buildings for cargo import and export, and a three-storey parking structure for 1,350 vehicles. Initially, 12 out of 26 boarding bridges will be operational, with 115 check-in counters, including 15 self-service counters and 10 automated passport control counters.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines and other domestic airlines plan to increase flight operations with the inauguration of the third terminal. Foreign airlines have also shown interest in expanding their services. The third terminal will be connected to the metro rail and the Dhaka Elevated Expressway, providing seamless access for passengers and enhancing the Dhaka airport’s capacity to serve as a regional aviation hub.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds at most places across the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas may experience moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall, according to their latest weather bulletin released on Thursday.
Day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country.
The highest rainfall in the country over the past 24 hours was recorded in Kumarkhali, with 104mm of rain by 6 a.m. on Thursday.
The axis of the monsoon trough extends from India’s Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal to Assam, passing through Bangladesh, with one of its associated troughs stretching into the North Bay of Bengal.
The monsoon remains active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the North Bay region.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the mild heat wave currently affecting parts of the country, including the capital, is expected to subside in most areas within the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
“A mild heat wave is sweeping across the divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, as well as the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. It is likely to ease in most regions,” the department reported.
In addition, BMD predicted light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across most of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas are expected to experience moderate to very heavy rainfall.
Temperatures across the country may drop by 1-2 degrees Celsius during both day and night.
On Monday, Dinajpur in the Rangpur division recorded the country’s highest temperature at 38.6°C, while Bandarban in the Chattogram division saw the lowest temperature at 24.6°C early today.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded in the past 24 hours, ending at 6 am today, reached 66 mm in Nikli of Dhaka Division.
The sunset in Dhaka is at 5:53 pm today, and sunrise is expected at 5:49 am tomorrow.
Two separate murder cases were filed today in connection with the deaths of a private service holder and a Madrasa student during the anti-discrimination student movement.
The first case was lodged by Ridwan Ahmed with Panchlaish police station, accusing former ministers Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, and 127 others for the death of his nephew Sujan, 14. Sujan, the son of Belal Hossain from Beramara village in Noakhali’s Sadar Thana, was a student at Al Jamirul Hayat Madrasa in the city’s Chandgaon area. He was fatally shot in the Muradpur area on July 18.
The second case was filed by Jamal Uddin at Doublemooring police station, accusing 225 individuals, including Dr. Hasan Mahmud and Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, for the killing of his elder brother Alam, a private service holder, on August 5.
