Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's third terminal remains on track for a December opening, with the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) expecting to finalise the operating agreement within the next two months.
Speaking at a workshop at CAAB headquarters on Monday, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq said the authority was making "every possible effort" to open the terminal as scheduled by the government.
He said Japanese bidders are due to submit their tenders on 31 July, after which the evaluation process will begin.
"After that, a decision will be made. The next timeline will be clear after the agreement is signed. There is a possibility of signing it by late August or early September," he said.
Construction of the US$2.1 billion terminal is almost complete. However, its commercial launch depends on appointing an operator to take over the facility and prepare it for service.
Once selected, the operator will assume responsibility for installed equipment, complete system calibration and recruit operational staff, a process expected to take several months before full-scale operations begin.
Siddiq said airport services would continue without disruption after the terminal is inaugurated. Initially, 20 to 25 per cent of air traffic will be shifted to the new terminal, with scheduled flights moving there in phases.
Repayment of loans for the US$2.1 billion project began in June and will continue until 2056.
The operator will be selected from a Japanese consortium comprising Japan Airport Terminal, Sumitomo Corporation, Sojitz Corporation and Narita International Airport Corporation. Representatives of the consortium held meetings with government ministers and an adviser in March and April as preparations for the appointment progressed.
.jpg "Milestone victim’s humanity, bravery inspires Bangladesh: Dr Zubaida")
