Dhaka airport's 3rd terminal talks on 3 April as negotiations enter final phase

Bangladesh is poised to unlock the long-delayed third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport as fresh negotiations with a Japanese consortium enter a decisive phase following the submission of a revised, lower-cost proposal.

A high-level senior official of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) told BSS today (1 April) that the consortium has addressed Dhaka's concerns by recalibrating its financial offer, particularly on service charges, operational control and revenue-sharing issues that had stalled earlier discussions.

The latest progress follows a series of segment-wise technical meetings held at CAAB headquarters in Dhaka on Monday and Tuesday, where both sides reviewed pricing and operational components in detail, signalling a shift from policy-level dialogue to final-stage negotiations.

CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq briefed the outcomes of the technical meetings to Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom and State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat at the Secretariat today.   

CAAB officials said the second high-level meeting, scheduled for tomorrow at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is expected to determine the fate of the deal. 

The Bangladesh side will likely be represented by Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, among others.

Officials indicated that the meeting could be decisive, with expectations that a final agreement may be reached shortly after. "A final agreement is expected to be reached next week following the 3 April meeting," an official said.

From prolonged delay to renewed momentum

Although the third terminal is over 99% complete, it has remained non-operational for years due to unresolved management and operational arrangements.

Industry insiders have widely criticised the delay, attributing it to policy indecision and rigid positions under the previous interim administration, which left a major national asset idle.

Momentum shifted after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman directed authorities to resume negotiations immediately after the new government assumed office, prioritising a practical, outcome-driven solution.

That directive led to the 13 March breakthrough meeting chaired by foreign minister, where Bangladesh formally requested a revised proposal from the Japanese side.

The Japanese consortium comprising – Japan Airport Terminal Company, Sumitomo Corporation, Sojitz Corporation and Narita International Airport Corporation – has since submitted a revised offer with reduced pricing, significantly narrowing differences.

Officials said the new proposal reflected greater flexibility and created a pathway towards a "win-win" agreement.

The terminal project itself was largely financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and constructed at an estimated cost of Tk21,398 crore. 

Spanning around 542,000 square metres, it is designed to handle an additional 12 to 16 million passengers annually along with nearly 9,00,000 tonnes of cargo.