Dhaka airport third terminal: Revised proposal sought from Japan
After nearly a year, the two sides resumed talks in a renewed effort to bring the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport into operation on a mutually beneficial basis
Bangladesh has urged the Japanese consortium linked to the third terminal project at Dhaka's airport to promptly provide a revised proposal on operating and maintaining the facility, as both sides restarted negotiations aimed at bringing the delayed terminal into service.
The matter was discussed at a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, attended by officials from the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), and a Japanese delegation.
After nearly a year, the two sides resumed talks in a renewed effort to bring the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport into operation on a mutually beneficial basis, according to a press release.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom Rita described the meeting as productive and said both sides were working to open the new terminal soon.
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"We had a productive meeting. We are trying to make the third terminal operational as soon as possible following the instruction of Honourable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. We hope to reach a win-win agreement with Japan to open the new terminal," she told reporters after the meeting.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat urged the Japanese delegation to submit a revised proposal soon addressing Bangladesh's concerns over the operation and maintenance framework.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed a proposal presented by the Japanese side regarding the management of the terminal and discussed issues including embarkation fees, revenue-sharing arrangements and the structure of upfront payments.
Millat said complications had arisen regarding certain charges and operational issues in the earlier agreement related to the management of the terminal.
He explained that civil aviation agreements generally involve three categories of charges, and differences had emerged between the two sides over some of these issues.
"Both sides discussed the matter in detail. Bangladesh presented its proposals and the Japanese side also shared their position," he said, adding that the Japanese side had agreed to consider Bangladesh's proposals and submit a revised offer shortly.
The high-level meeting marked the first formal negotiation under the newly formed BNP-led government, reflecting a fresh push to resolve contractual and operational deadlocks that have kept the nearly completed terminal idle.
The Bangladesh delegation included Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom Rita, Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam.
The Japanese delegation included Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh Takahashi Naoki and Assistant Vice Minister of Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Rieko Nakayama, along with other senior officials.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and State Minister Millat described the discussions as positive and expressed optimism that a mutually acceptable solution could be reached soon.
Humayun Kabir said the government is examining the issue with Bangladesh's national interest as the top priority. "The discussions between the two sides are progressing positively, and we hope to see meaningful progress soon," he said.
Officials from CAAB said the delay in operationalising the terminal largely resulted from indecision during the previous interim government, when negotiations over terminal management, operational control and revenue-sharing arrangements failed to reach consensus.
The latest meeting followed the prime minister's directive to reopen negotiations with the Japanese consortium to bring the terminal into operation.
The Japanese consortium involved in the project includes Japan Airport Terminal Company, Sumitomo Corporation, Sojitz Corporation and Narita International Airport Corporation. The project has been largely financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Approved in 2017 and launched in 2019 at a cost of around Tk21,398 crore, the third terminal spans approximately 542,000 square metres and is designed to handle an additional 12–16 million passengers annually along with nearly 900,000 tonnes of cargo.
