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Published : 13 Mar 2026, 09:02 PM
The Bangladesh government and a Japanese delegation have held a high-level meeting to discuss the operation and maintenance of the third terminal of Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
In the meeting held at the conference room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday morning, the Japanese delegation made a proposal on the operation and maintenance of the third terminal.
Embarkation fees, upfront fees, and revenue sharing were on the agenda, according to a media statement from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
The meeting, however, could not indicate exactly when the terminal will be fully operational.
On Wednesday, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the facility could become operational within nine months.
During the latest meeting, Civil Aviation Minister Afroza Khanam Rita said the government is working to inaugurate the third terminal soon, ensuring maximum convenience for passengers.
State Minister Millat urged the Japanese delegate to quickly submit a revised proposal for the terminal.
Chaired by Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, the meeting was also attended by his deputy, Shama Obaed Islam, and Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir, among others, from the Bangladesh side.
The Japanese delegation was comprised of officials from the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka, an assistant vice-minister and representatives of a Japanese consortium.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a meeting on Feb 22 to review progress on the long-delayed terminal and directed officials to complete preparations for its launch.
The project to build the terminal was initiated in 2017 by the former Awami League government. Construction formally began on Dec 28, 2019, with an estimated cost of about Tk 213.98 billion.
Ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina partially inaugurated the terminal on Oct 7, 2023. At the time, the CAAB had expected the facility to become fully operational in 2024, but that deadline passed without completion.
