Even 15 days after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's announcement, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has made little headway on opening the third terminal at Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka. Meanwhile, the ministry and CAAB have yet to finalize a decision on the Tk 1,650 crore debt of the construction consortium.
Following the Prime Minister's directive, the Japanese firm Mitsubishi Corporation, part of the Aviation Dhaka Consortium (ADC), approached CAAB to discuss the terminal's launch. However, their proposal was reportedly rejected by the current administration.
Sources indicate a growing administrative stagnation within CAAB, fueled by rumors of potential transfers of the chairman and senior officials.
Last Thursday, the minister and state minister visited CAAB and inspected the third terminal to assess the situation firsthand.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in a meeting on February 22, had instructed concerned officials to hold discussions with ADC and expedite the terminal's opening. Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam later confirmed to reporters that the Prime Minister is keen to ensure a swift launch.
However, officials' indifference to ADC's debt obligations-a joint venture of Japan's Mitsubishi and Fujita Corporations with South Korea's Samsung C&T-has escalated the issue to international arbitration, where the verdict favored the consortium, resulting in a Tk 1,650 crore payment liability. Observers say this has tarnished Bangladesh's international image.
Anonymous sources within Air Traffic Control report that rumors of mass transfers of senior officials across airports, including Shahjalal, have further slowed administrative work. Recently, Member Operations Mehboob Khan was reportedly attacked by a contractor in front of the chairman, reflecting mounting tensions.
Aviation expert Kazi Wahedul Alam expressed doubts over the terminal's timely opening. "The current administration, which failed to resolve matters with ADC, now faces questions about their ability to achieve results in renewed discussions," he said. He suggested that forming an inter-ministerial committee with skilled personnel could produce a more positive outcome.
With the Prime Minister's instructions pending full implementation, the third terminal's opening remains uncertain, highlighting a critical need for decisive administrative action and effective resolution of the consortium's debt issue.
