For the first time, an aircraft has landed at the newly constructed third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, marking a key milestone in the terminal’s operational readiness.

The inaugural landing was made by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines. 

The aircraft arrived from Rome on Monday morning, 4 August, and used the terminal’s Passenger Boarding Bridge (PBB) and Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS), officially recognising it as the first flight to utilise the new facility.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines confirmed that the flight was commanded by Captain Ishtiak Hossain, with First Officer Tahsin assisting. Air Commodore Abu Sayeed Mahbub Khan was present at the terminal to observe the event, which is being considered a significant operational landmark for the airport.

Following the disembarkation of passengers, a series of functionality tests was conducted between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm. These included evaluations of the docking system, boarding bridge external power connections, air conditioning, and water supply systems.

Airport authorities described the successful landing and subsequent system tests as a major step towards the terminal’s operational preparedness and enhanced service capabilities.

The third terminal project was initiated in 2017, with construction beginning on 28 December 2019. The estimated cost of the terminal stands at approximately Tk 21,398 crore, of which the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing Tk 16,141 crore as a loan, while the remainder is being financed by the Government of Bangladesh.

Spanning a three-storey structure over 3 million square feet, the terminal covers a total floor area of 230,000 square metres. It is 700 metres in length and 200 metres wide. The terminal was designed by Rohani Baharin, a renowned architect affiliated with Singapore-based CPG Corporation Pte Ltd.

SMS/