Bangladesh's Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam has sought Japan's continued support for the inauguration of the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on December 16. The government is working relentlessly to meet this target as per the Prime Minister's directive. Japan has been a longstanding and trusted development partner for Bangladesh, with Japanese companies significantly contributing to the construction of the third terminal. During a meeting with Special Adviser to the Japanese Prime Minister UNO Yoshimasa, Minister Khanam emphasized the need for Japan's support to complete all necessary preparations in time for the inauguration. State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat highlighted the importance of launching the Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) programme without delay. He also mentioned that the Japanese Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) needs to complete the submission of its tender next month. UNO Yoshimasa expressed hope that Bangladesh-Japan cooperation would continue to strengthen, reaffirming Japan's support for the HSIA Third Terminal project. Following the meeting, Minister Khanam and State Minister Millat presented UNO Yoshimasa with a scale model of a Biman Bangladesh Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner to mark the resumption of the national flag carrier's Dhaka-Narita flight services.
The third terminal at HSIA is expected to significantly boost the airport's capacity and efficiency, accommodating a larger number of passengers and flights. This development is crucial for Bangladesh's growing aviation sector and its role as a regional hub. The cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan in this project underscores the strong bilateral ties and mutual support in infrastructure development.
