PM Orders Rapid Opening of Third Terminal

In a definitive move to modernize the nation’s aviation infrastructure, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has issued a formal directive to expedite the operational launch of the Third Terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA). The order was conveyed following a high-level strategic meeting held at the Secretariat’s Cabinet Conference Room on Sunday, 22 February 2026.

Strategic Ministerial Consultations

Following the session, the Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Afroza Khanam, addressed members of the press to outline the government’s renewed focus on the terminal. The meeting, presided over by the Prime Minister, included key cabinet figures such as Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, and the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Air Vice Marshal Md. Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq.

Minister Khanam emphasized that the Prime Minister is personally overseeing the efforts to ensure the facility becomes functional as soon as possible. “The Prime Minister is dedicated to making the Third Terminal operational in the shortest feasible timeframe,” she remarked.

Delays and the Path Forward

Despite reports that more than 99% of the construction work was completed some time ago, the terminal has remained non-operational—a point of frustration for many travelers. When questioned by journalists regarding the specific reasons for this prolonged stagnation and the failure of the previous interim administration to commission the building, the Minister redirected the focus toward future progress.

“The question of why it remained closed should be directed to the preceding interim government,” she noted. “Our priority now is the Prime Minister’s current directive. We are currently engaged in detailed discussions and investigations to identify the swiftest path to a full opening.”

No Fixed Timeline as Investigations Continue

Despite the urgency of the Prime Minister’s mandate, Minister Khanam was cautious not to provide a specific calendar date for the inaugural flight. She explained that a thorough review of the facility’s technical and security systems is necessary before passengers can be admitted.

The government’s immediate objective is to resolve any lingering logistical or administrative hurdles that have hindered the transition from a completed construction site to a functional international hub. The Third Terminal is expected to significantly increase the airport’s passenger handling capacity, providing a world-class experience that aligns with the administration’s broader economic and tourism goals.