Photo : Ministry

DHAKA, July 28, 2026 (BSS) - Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza 
Khanam today sought Japan's continued support for the inauguration of the 
third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on December 
16, saying the government is working relentlessly to meet the target in line 
with the Prime Minister's directive.

"Japan is one of Bangladesh's oldest and most trusted development partners... 
Japanese companies have also made significant contributions to the 
construction of the third terminal here," she said.

The minister made the remarks during a courtesy call by Special Adviser to 
the Japanese Prime Minister UNO Yoshimasa at the conference room of the 
Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism at the Bangladesh Secretariat this 
morning.

According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, she 
said the government would complete all necessary preparations in time for the 
inauguration and make the terminal operational for passengers within the 
stipulated timeframe with Japan's continued support.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the longstanding friendship 
between Bangladesh and Japan, bilateral cooperation, and Japan's significant 
contributions to Bangladesh's infrastructure development, the release said.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the 
Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) programme must be launched 
without delay as part of preparations for commissioning the third terminal 
ahead of its planned inauguration on December 16.

"To this end, the Japanese Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) needs to complete 
the submission of its tender next month," he added.

Japanese Prime Minister's Special Adviser UNO Yoshimasa expressed hope that 
Bangladesh-Japan cooperation would continue to strengthen in the years ahead, 
reaffirming Japan's continued support for the HSIA Third Terminal project and 
other bilateral initiatives.

Following the meeting, Minister Afroza Khanam and State Minister M. 
Rashiduzzaman Millat presented UNO Yoshimasa with a scale model of a Biman 
Bangladesh Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner to mark the resumption of the 
national flag carrier's Dhaka-Narita flight services.