The construction work of the country’s third terminal at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is continuing at rapid progress that the authorities concerned are optimistic that it would be completed before the stipulated time.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mohammad Mahbub Ali said this while inspecting the construction work progress of the third terminal in the capital on Saturday.
He said, “We are ahead of the target in the construction of the 3rd terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Till June 2021, 14.5 percent of the work of this terminal was supposed to be completed, but till today, the work has been completed 17 percent”.
He also said that, “The construction work of the terminal did not stop even for a day when the whole world was at a standstill due to the aggression of Covid-19. The construction of this terminal is expected to be completed in June 2023. However, we hope that the work would be completed ahead of schedule”.
“The size of the terminal would be more than double that of the existing airport. Ashkona Hajj Camp will be connected to the new terminal through tunnel way. This will ensure hassle-free movement of pilgrims during the hajj season,” he added.
The state minister said that, “Bangladesh has set foot on the highway of development under the visionary and multi-dimensional leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. As a part of this, the 3rd terminal is being constructed. Metrorail will be connected to this terminal. The terminal will be fully automated. A foreigner could realize the beauty of Bangladesh by setting foot in this beautiful airport in the coming days”.
According to the project details, the terminal of 542,000 square meters has 36 aircraft aprons (aircraft parking space). The most spectacular aspect of the terminal is its state-of-the-art building. Inside this 230,000 square meter building, all the significant and sophisticated technologies are included.
According to the airport authorities, the terminal will have Metrorail connection inside the terminal building, self check-in, e-gate, straight escalator (flat lift), three types of sophisticated baggage belts, baby care, children's play area, first aid, movie lounge, food court, and many more. Besides, there will be 27 baggage scanning machines and 11 body scanners.
According to airport sources, the capacity of the new terminal is higher than the existing one. At present, the airport has a cargo village for import and export, but a separate import-export cargo village building will be constructed on the north side of the third terminal.
In addition, the third terminal will have a modern passenger terminal building with two floors of 226,000 square meters. At present, 65 lakh passengers use Terminals 1 and 2 of the airport every year. When the third terminal will be constructed, this number will increase to 1.20 crore.
Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mokammel Hossain, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority Air Vice Marshal Md Mofidur Rahman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Dr Abu Saleh Md Mostafa Kamal and other senior officials were present.