Wait for Dhaka airport's third terminal to extend into mid-2025

“The service at the third terminal must be on par with the best airports. We will not compromise on this,” says CAAB chief Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan

Air Vice Marshal Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, has revealed that it will take a few more months for Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal to become operational.

“Passenger services at the third terminal might start around the middle of next year or shortly after. Once the third terminal is open, terminals 1 and 2 will be used for domestic flights,” he said during an event on Sunday marking the first flight of Ethiopian Airlines to Dhaka.

“If passenger traffic continues to grow, we will renovate these older terminals for international use.”

Currently, 12 to 13 million passengers travel from Bangladesh each year, and this number is projected to rise to 26 million by 2035, according to Kabir.

“We are preparing the third terminal accordingly.”

Originally, the terminal was expected to be fully operational by October this year as part of the Awami League government's major projects. However, officials noted that political changes in March caused delays.

“The service at the third terminal must be on par with the best airports. We will not compromise on this,” said Kabir.

“The terminal was built with a JICA loan that needs to be repaid. Therefore, maintaining high service standards is non-negotiable.”