PM expects Dhaka Airport's Third Terminal to be ready by December

Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman voiced optimism that the construction of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) will be completed on schedule, paving the way for its inauguration by December.

The expectation was shared during a meeting on July 1 with a Japanese delegation led by Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shimada Tomaki, at the Prime Minister's Office in the Secretariat.

The delegation also included Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Press Wing.

During the talks, Bangladesh and Japan reviewed the progress of several major JICA-supported infrastructure projects, including the Matarbari Deep Sea Port, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network, and the third terminal of HSIA.

The Japanese side also gave a positive response to Bangladesh's request to increase Japan's energy assistance package from USD 312 million to USD 500 million to help meet the country's growing energy demand.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to accelerating negotiations and implementation of the proposed Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

Japan further informed the Prime Minister that it would provide five patrol boats to the Bangladesh Navy as part of bilateral cooperation.

The meeting also discussed the ongoing Rohingya crisis. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman sought Japan's continued support and a stronger role within the international community to facilitate the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar's Rakhine State.

The Japanese delegation invited the Prime Minister to visit Japan, and Tarique Rahman expressed his willingness to undertake the visit at a mutually convenient time.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister's advisers Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir and Humaiun Kobir, and Special Assistant on Asia-Pacific Overseas Employment Dr. Md. Shakirul Islam Khan attended the meeting from the Bangladesh side.

The Japanese delegation included Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi, Director of the International Cooperation Bureau of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hirose Aiko, and JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Takahashi Junko.