Dhaka: The government is prepared to seek other international operators to run Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s (HSIA) newly built third terminal if the Japanese consortium declines to take up the responsibility, Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser S K Bashir said today. “Our negotiations with the Japanese consortium have reached the final stage. We have clarified all issues that were previously unclear. We hope that within this week we will receive a reply from them. Now the ball is in their court… we are waiting,” Bashir told newsmen at the Secretariat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, if Sumitomo does not agree, the government will consider other options to ensure the terminal operates efficiently. Adviser Bashir emphasized that his commitment is to Bangladesh, stating that while the consortium was initially promised the operational contract, the government remains open to partnering with other countries if necessary. Despite having no formal offers from other countries, the government is determined to find a competent international operator to enhance service quality and management at the terminal.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), acting as the transaction adviser, had earlier provided a framework, and Bangladesh has addressed all outstanding issues transparently. The final round of negotiations between the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and the Japanese consortium is scheduled for September 7 to 9 at CAAB headquarters. The sessions will be chaired by CAAB officials, with Adviser Bashir presiding over the concluding day.
The third terminal at HSIA, constructed at a cost of Tk 21,139 crore with significant financing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is ready for operation. Although a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight used the terminal on a trial basis in August, commercial operations await the conclusion of negotiations with the Japanese consortium, led by Sumitomo Corporation and other Japanese entities.
The previous Awami League government had promised the consortium operational rights under a public-private partnership (PPP) model as part of the JICA-funded construction package. However, after the Interim Government took office, a policy decision assigned ground-handling responsibilities to Biman Bangladesh Airlines for two years, creating unease within the consortium, which seeks broader operational and revenue-sharing rights.
Negotiations have stalled over revenue-sharing arrangements, with disagreements regarding the shares to be received by the Bangladesh government and the consortium. The terminal, inaugurated through a “soft opening” in October 2023, aims to significantly boost HSIA’s passenger capacity and expand its cargo handling capabilities, integrating with Dhaka’s metro rail, elevated expressway, and hajj camp.
Aviation experts warn that delays in finalizing an operator could escalate costs due to expiring equipment warranties and potentially undermine the project’s strategic benefits. The construction of the terminal began in December 2019, covering an area of 542,000 square meters with a floor space of 230,000 square meters, featuring state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate future aviation growth.