Bangladesh, Japan advance Dhaka airport third terminal negotiations at fresh high-level talks
Bangladesh and Japan today held the second high-level meeting to advance negotiations on the operation and maintenance of the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, signalling renewed momentum toward finalising a long-delayed deal, BSS reports.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was attended by Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and Civil Aviation State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, among others.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Senior officials including Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq also joined the discussions.
The Japanese delegation was led by Assistant Vice Minister of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Nakayama Rieko.
Officials said the meeting focused on operational and financial aspects of the third terminal management, as both sides seek to resolve outstanding issues and move towards a mutually acceptable agreement.
On March 13, at a meeting between the Civil Aviation and Tourism Affairs Ministry, CAAB, and a Japanese delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh called upon the Japanese side to promptly submit a revised proposal on the operation and maintenance of the terminal.
The meeting marked the first formal negotiation under the BNP-led government in an effort to turn the long-delayed terminal operational on a win-win basis.
At that meeting, the two sides discussed a proposal presented by the Japanese delegation regarding the terminal’s operation and maintenance.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat then said both sides were seeking a solution beneficial for Bangladesh while correcting shortcomings in earlier agreements.
On Wednesday, a high-level senior official of CAAB told BSS that the Japanese consortium had addressed Dhaka’s concerns by recalibrating its financial offer, particularly on service charges, operational control and revenue-sharing issues that had stalled earlier discussions.
The official then indicated that today’s meeting could be decisive, with expectations that a final agreement may be reached shortly after. “A final agreement is expected to be reached next week following the April 3rd meeting,” he said.
The terminal has remained non-operational for years due to unresolved management and operational arrangements.
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