HSIA third terminal opens by Oct ’23

The third terminal of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka is likely to be inaugurated by October next year, as its construction work is progressing faster than expected, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali said on Monday.
"As of 8 April, 34.6 per cent construction work of the third terminal has been completed, whereas it was scheduled to be 32.7 per cent," said the state minister.
The minister said this while talking to the media after visiting the construction site at the airport in the city's Kurmitola.
Once the construction of the third terminal is accomplished, the airport will be able to overcome its infrastructural shortcomings in handling passengers, he said.
The state minister highlighted the need for better coordination in the construction of a tunnel and an elevated expressway towards the terminal.
"The construction of the elevated expressway shall begin soon and then it will be connected to the terminal," said Mr Ali, adding that the prime minister had instructed expansion of the tunnel until Ashkona Hajj Camp.
Responding to a query on high plane fares on different routes including the Middle East, Mr Ali said the issue had been discussed with the airlines.
The cost is gradually coming down - will further decrease within a month, he said, adding that the authorities concerned would try to rationally charge plane fares for the hajj pilgrims.
Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, Additional Secretary (Planning) the civil aviation and tourism ministry Sukesh Kumar Sarkar, and CAAB Chief Engineer Abdul Malek were also present at the briefing.
Mafidur Rahman said the construction of two additional high speed taxiways was going on to reduce aircrafts' waiting time on the runway.
The work will be completed in May, whereas it was scheduled to end in June next, he added.

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