New era begins as PM opens Dhaka airport 3rd terminal

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the soft opening of Terminal 3 of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HISA) today (7 October), aiming to make Bangladesh an aviation hub with the slogan "Connecting dreams to reality".

"I believe Bangladesh will be the international aviation hub as it is in between air routes of the East and the West. The global airlines will land either at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport or Cox's Bazar International Airport for refuelling," she said while partially inaugurating the terminal and unveiling a plaque at HSIA function.

"Bangladesh's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport or Cox's Bazar International Airport will be the international aviation hub for its geographical location," she added.

The premier said once Hong Kong was the international aviation hub and Singapore later replaced Hong Kong and now Dubai has become the new aviation hub.

Hasina said the third terminal with modern facilities will help expand international air connectivity.

The air link will boost international trade, commerce and business significantly for which her government has given utmost priority to the development of the aviation sector, she also added.

She said all the major airports like Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Sylhet, Chattogram, Sayedpur, Jashore, Barishal and Rajshahi airports are being expanded and modernised.

Apart from these, steps have also been taken for inter-district air connectivity to flourish tourism.

She said they will build another runway in future in the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport if required.

"None have made such a huge development in the aviation sector in the past," she added.

Speaking at the inauguration, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Komura Masahiro said Japan will continue to make concrete efforts, like Terminal 3 of Dhaka airport, that contribute to strengthening connectivity for the sake of "peace, stability and prosperity" of the region and the international community.

"Located at the nexus of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, Bangladesh is an important partner in realizing the Free and Open Indo-Pacific," he said.

A total of 70% of the funding for the Third Terminal, which cost Tk21,300 crore, is coming from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The Bangladesh government has contributed Tk5,000 crore.

What attendees said  

After attending the inauguration, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley took to X and wrote that the opening of Dhaka Airport's Third Terminal will transform Bangladesh's passenger and cargo handling capabilities.  

"Spectacular opening by Hon. PM Hasina of the impressive new airport terminal in Dhaka — which will transform Bangladesh passenger and cargo capabilities, including the potential to handle 24 million passengers per year," he said in the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy, Jan Janowski, also shared his experience of visiting Terminal 3 which had its soft-opening today. 

"Bangladesh aviation taking off soon. Stunned by the beauty of the new Terminal 3 of HSIA, Dhaka — A lot of German technology behind the scenes, can't wait for the 1st Airbus 380 landing here," he wrote.

On the ground

Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), reported that 90% of the new terminal's construction has been completed for the soft launch.

Starting Saturday (7 October), airlines will be able to utilise the new parking bay, with full passenger operations expected by the end of next year after system integration and calibration.

The third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, which is expected to enhance the airport's export cargo handling three times, expand cold storage facilities and reduce lead time, will boost the country's agricultural exports.

The airport currently has an export cargo handling capacity of around 2 lakh tonnes per annum, which will increase to around 5.47 lakh tonnes once the third terminal goes fully operational.

On the other hand, three-category cold storage facilities, ranging 396.15 square metres with a capacity of around 4,000 tonnes in the new export cargo complex, will help preserve fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and other items.