New lounges at Dhaka airport delight travellers. But many are still unaware of the facilities

The feedback on the expatriate and waiting lounges that opened in November has been largely positive, but a lack of public awareness among an issue

Saidul Islam, a native of Noakhali's Senbagh, has been living in Italy for nearly 22 years. As he returned to Bangladesh on Monday morning, he had trouble locating his family at the airport. Without a local SIM card, he couldn't reach out to them.

Much to his relief, the newly inaugurated 'Expatriate Lounge' near the immigration area offered phone services, allowing him to call them.

He soon learnt that his family would arrive late. But the wait was comfortable as Saiful passed the time relaxing in the lounge.

In November, Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport introduced two specialised lounges: the Expatriate Lounge for returning migrant workers and the Waiting Lounge for passengers and their family members.

The Expatriate Lounge is located inside the terminal near immigration, while the Waiting Lounge is situated on the second floor of the multi-storey car parking facility adjacent to Terminal 2.

Although many passengers and their families are still unaware of these facilities, those who know about them have expressed satisfaction with the services offered.

AMENITIES APLENTY

On Monday, the Waiting Lounge saw a notable number of visitors. Security at the lounge is managed by personnel from the Air Force, Ansar and the Armed Police Battalion (APBn).

The lounge is equipped with a range of amenities, including designated rest areas, separate prayer rooms for men and women, a children’s play area, washrooms, an air-conditioned café, and a breastfeeding centre.

For convenience, the lounge also provides TVs for entertainment and monitors displaying real-time flight information.

TRAVELLERS PLEASED

Sohel Rana, a resident of Manikganj, recently returned home after eight years in Singapore and was preparing to fly back. Having missed his morning flight, he was waiting for the next one scheduled at noon.

Sitting in the lounge, he said, “Previously, there wasn’t a proper place to wait at the airport. This lounge is a fantastic addition. Otherwise, managing my luggage would have been a hassle.”

Shafiqul Mallick from Tangail was waiting in the lounge with his family for his 4pm flight to Oman. “It’s a wonderful setup,” he said. “Being able to spend time comfortably with my family has made leaving the country much less stressful.”

Shairul Islam from Thakurgaon, who came to see off his brother-in-law for a 10pm flight, also praised the facilities at the lounge. “This service wasn’t available during my 10 years in Malaysia. Without it, we would have had to book a hotel, which often involves risks and inconveniences,” he said.

AWARENESS GAP

Many passengers and their relatives remain oblivious to the newly launched lounges. Sumona Akter from Noakhali's Chatkhil, was waiting in the canopy area of Terminal 2 with flowers to surprise her husband. However, the absence of seating arrangements left her frustrated. “I didn’t know about the Waiting Lounge,” she said.

Similarly, Shahinur Begum from Chandpur, who was waiting with her elderly in-laws for her husband's return from Saudi Arabia, spoke about her discomfort due to the lack of seating options. She, too, was unaware of the lounge facilities.

WHY THE LOUNGES WERE INTRODUCED

Expatriates frequently arrive at the airport well in advance of their flights to avoid delays, sometimes showing up in the morning for evening departures. Many bring family members along, which often leads to challenges like lack of proper seating or facilities to pass the time comfortably.

The two lounges were inaugurated by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus last month to address these issues.

A statement from the Chief Advisor’s Office described the Expatriate Lounge as the first of its kind at Shahjalal International Airport. It provides travellers with a space to relax and offers amenities such as subsidised snacks, free Wi-Fi, and phone call facilities to provide a more comfortable experience.

RAISING AWARENESS

The limited awareness about the newly unveiled lounges has been attributed to inadequate promotion and lack of proper signage. For instance, the Waiting Lounge does not have visible signs, and even an APBn officer stationed near the area was unable to provide its exact location.

When asked about the issue, Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), immediately directed the airport's executive director to install signage for travellers.

"This is a good suggestion," he said. "I’ve instructed the airport’s executive director to install proper signage so the lounges are easily noticeable."

Kamrul Islam, the airport's executive director, also highlighted the positive reception of the lounges. “Passengers appreciate the spacious environment, facilities and reasonably priced food options at the lounges.”