Soft opening of third terminal in December, full operation by March-April: State Minister

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir has said the soft opening of the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka may take place in December, with full operations beginning between March and April next year. He said once the third terminal is fully operational, it will have the capacity to handle around 1.2 crore passengers annually, marking the beginning of efforts to build Bangladesh as a regional aviation hub.

He made these remarks as a special guest at a conference titled 'World-class Aviation in Bangladesh's Economic Progress', organised by Bonik Barta at the United Convention Centre in Dhaka on Saturday, September 12.

The state minister said the government will provide policy support to advance the aviation sector. At the same time, initiatives will be taken to reduce bureaucratic complexities to ease the business environment. He said the responsibility of strengthening the country's aviation sector must be borne by Bangladesh itself, as foreigners will not build the sector for us, though international partners can cooperate.

He said due to the absence of democracy in the country over the past 15-16 years, the necessary policy support and a suitable policy environment were not created in the aviation sector, as in other sectors. However, he expressed hope that the government would work with the aim of bringing visible changes to the aviation sector in the next five years.

He further said that to build Bangladesh as a regional aviation hub, emphasis must be placed on developing airport infrastructure, strengthening the national airline and establishing world-class ground handling systems. Bangladesh must lead in these areas. Alongside this, the fleet must be expanded to carry passengers, launch new routes and increase flights on existing routes. Whether Bangladesh will buy Boeing or Airbus is also the country's own decision.

Referring to the third terminal as a major opportunity for the country's aviation sector, the state minister said discussions on the terminal have been advanced quickly since the government took office. The Prime Minister formed a discussion committee and directed that discussions be concluded quickly, considering the national interest and the interests of the people. Those discussions are now at a nearly final stage.

He said a 'win-win' agreement for Bangladesh is expected following the discussions on the third terminal, with Bangladesh's share of revenue being much higher than the arrangement left by the previous government. He said completing construction alone is not enough to ensure full operations of the third terminal; operational preparations, airport transfer arrangements and other related activities must also be prepared to international standards. Discussions are ongoing with international partners in this regard, and investment possibilities are being explored.

Noting that around 1.2 crore passengers will have the opportunity to travel through Bangladesh once the third terminal opens, he said this would make it possible to begin the process of building Bangladesh as a major aviation hub. At the same time, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities must be developed in the country. Additionally, local aviation training centres must be established to produce a new generation of pilots, airline engineers and ground staff, with training ensured to international standards so that Bangladesh's aviation sector can provide world-class service.

Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh will follow an open sky policy as much as possible, though airspace may need to be closed at special times due to circumstances, which would be exceptional. Bangladesh wants an open sky policy that allows flights from various countries to use Bangladesh as a gateway to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other regions.

He said opportunities exist for Bangladesh to create new routes and gateways in the markets of South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia. Increasing connectivity with various countries, including China, Japan and Korea, would create great potential in tourism, trade and investment. At the same time, opportunities for partnership with low-cost airlines must be utilised.

Assuring reduced bureaucratic complexities in developing the aviation sector, the state minister said the Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism is a person with experience in the private sector. As a result, the government will work collectively to reduce red tape in easing business.

He said the current government is optimistic about taking Bangladesh forward. The government will work to further strengthen the country's capacity and competitive position in various sectors, including aviation.

The conference was conducted by Bonik Barta Editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud. Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat was present as chief guest, and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddique was present as guest of honour.

At the conference, former CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Mahmud Hossain presented the keynote paper on 'World-class Aviation in Bangladesh's Economic Progress'. Policymakers, experts, diplomats, entrepreneurs and stakeholders from various domestic and international organisations associated with the aviation sector participated. US-Bangla Airlines was the gold sponsor of the conference.