The third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport may be inaugurated on 16 December, said State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat.
He made the remarks on Thursday at a briefing at the Secretariat on current issues related to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
The state minister said the process of signing an agreement with Japan on airport ground handling management is ongoing. He added that although the deal was scheduled to be signed by 19 July, the government is trying to complete it earlier.
Millat said expanding the fleet of Biman Bangladesh Airlines is necessary to meet the country’s growing air transport demand. He noted that Bangladesh currently needs 47 aircraft, not 14 as earlier assessed.
“Purchasing 14 Boeing aircraft would cost around 2.17 billion US dollars and the cost could be repaid in instalments from revenue” Millat added.
He also said the first new Boeing aircraft is expected to arrive in 2031.
The state minister said initiatives have been taken to restructure Biman Bangladesh Airlines to remove irregularities, corruption and management weaknesses.
Responding to allegations of baggage cutting of Hajj passengers, he said reports circulated on social media had been found false in investigation.
The state minister said the probe found no evidence of baggage mishandling and no written or verbal complaints were submitted by any Hajj passenger.
He further said damage was found in 21 pieces of luggage. However, video footage analysis showed the damage did not occur in Bangladesh. It occurred at the location from where the luggage originated.
