Bangladesh seeks revised plan from Japan to run HSIA Terminal 3
The govt stepped up efforts to resolve outstanding issues surrounding the management of the nearly completed terminal
ATT Correspondent 
Bangladesh has asked the Japanese side to submit a revised proposal on the operation and maintenance of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport as both countries renewed negotiations to bring the long-delayed facility into operation.
The request was made during a meeting between officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and a Japanese delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on Friday.
Officials said the talks resumed after nearly a year as the government stepped up efforts to resolve outstanding issues surrounding the management of the nearly completed terminal.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat urged the Japanese delegation to submit an updated proposal on operating and maintaining the terminal at the earliest.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom Rita described the discussions as constructive. “We had a productive meeting. We are working to make the third terminal operation as soon as possible following the instruction of 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.
The meeting marked the first formal negotiation on the issue under the newly formed BNP-led government.
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and senior officials from CAAB and the aviation ministry were also present.
The Japanese delegation included Takahashi Naoki, charge d’affaires of the Japanese embassy in Dhaka, and Rieko Nakayama, assistant vice minister of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, along with other senior officials.
After the meeting, officials from both sides described the discussions as positive and expressed hope that a mutually acceptable arrangement could be reached soon.
Millat said the negotiations focused on operational arrangements and several categories of service charges related to the management of the terminal. Differences emerged earlier between the two sides on certain charges and operational responsibilities.
“Bangladesh presented its proposals and the Japanese side shared their views. They have agreed to review our suggestions and submit a revised proposal soon,” he said.
Humayun Kabir said the government is examining the matter with national interest as the top priority and expects meaningful progress in the coming weeks.
Another round of discussions is likely to take place by the end of March.
Officials said the delay in launching the terminal largely stemmed from unresolved issues during the previous interim administration, when negotiations over operational control and revenue-sharing arrangements failed to reach a final agreement.
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 (JICA).
Approved in 2017 and launched in 2019 at a cost of around Tk 21,398 crore, the third terminal covers about 542,000 square metres and is designed to handle an additional 12 to 16 million passengers annually along with nearly 900,000 tonnes of cargo.
Aviation experts say bringing the terminal into operation is essential to ease congestion at Dhaka airport and strengthen Bangladesh’s ambition to become a regional aviation hub in South and Southeast Asia.
