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.
