Construction defects found at HSIA’s 3rd terminal

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has taken steps to rectify water leakage and other construction-related defects identified at different parts of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Third Terminal ahead of its opening. Under the terms of the project contract, the identified defects will be repaired by the concerned contractor at its own responsibility and expense.

Recently, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq conducted an on-site inspection of the Third Terminal. During the visit, he noticed rainwater entering through several areas, including parts of the terminal roof and door gangways. He instructed officials to formally document the issues and notify the contractor so that the necessary corrective measures could be carried out in accordance with the contract.

Following the chairman’s directive, Project Director H.M. Nuruddin sent letters to the contractor and consulting firm, asking them to take the necessary measures. Rectification work on the identified leaks and other defects is now underway in phases.

CAAB officials said identifying and rectifying defects after the completion of construction is a normal part of the process for large infrastructure projects. Such inspections are routinely conducted before a project is formally taken over to identify any deficiencies and ensure their correction by the contractor.

A CAAB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “It is not unusual for defects to be identified in large projects. Every project goes through a process of identifying defects and subsequent rectification. The important issue is to ensure that identified problems are properly addressed.”

The official added that under the amicable settlement arrangement, any construction-related problems identified during the process must be rectified by the concerned contractor. Therefore, CAAB is not expected to bear any additional financial liability for such repairs.

The chairman’s inspection was primarily aimed at identifying any remaining deficiencies before the terminal becomes operational and ensuring that corrective measures are taken. Officials said the issues were formally communicated to the concerned parties to maintain proper documentation and ensure that the contractor completes the required rectification work.

CAAB sources said the Third Terminal, a large and technically complex infrastructure project, is undergoing various stages of testing, inspection, defect identification and rectification before full-scale operations begin.