Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Photo : BSS

By Tanzim Anwar

DHAKA, Sept 7, 2025 (BSS) - Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser S K Bashir has indicated that the government may allow a second international ground handler for Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's (HSIA) third terminal alongside Biman Bangladesh Airlines, in a bid to ensure international-standard passenger and cargo services.

"We have already taken a decision regarding ground handling and will make it public soon," Adviser Bashir told BSS, hinting that the announcement is likely to come next week.

"We want to establish a competitive environment. Our aim is to enhance services based on the capacity of all those involved in ground handling. We want a coordinated approach," he explained.

"We do not want Biman in any way to become uncompetitive, but at the same time we also do not want our passenger services to deteriorate," Bashir added.

He further noted that while Bangladesh may not immediately achieve the highest international benchmarks, passenger services at the new terminal must at least reach a "dignified and respectable" standard. "So to make sure it, we want to bring a competition," he asserted.

Meanwhile, the final round of a three-day negotiation between the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and a Japanese consortium began this afternoon to decide the operation of the newly built third terminal.

CAAB officials said the first two sessions are being chaired by CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mostofa Mahmud Siddiq, while Adviser Bashir will preside over the concluding day of talks. Representatives from all stakeholders, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as transaction adviser, are participating.

CAAB sources said the policy decision to assign Biman ground-handling responsibilities for two years created unease within the consortium, which has sought broader operational and revenue-sharing rights.

Under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, a Service Level Agreement (SLA) is to be signed between Biman and the private sector partner managing the terminal. 

According to the PPP Authority, if Biman fails to meet performance indicators during the two-year period, the operator will be allowed to appoint a reputed international ground handling company in addition to Biman.

The issue of ground handling has been debated for years. The ousted previous Awami League government had signaled that a Japanese firm might take the role, amid concerns raised by foreign airlines over Biman's service quality.

Currently, Biman remains the sole ground handler at all airports in Bangladesh, serving nearly 40 foreign carriers with an annual turnover of Tk 1,000-1,200 crore. 

While officials say service has improved with new equipment and manpower, passengers and airlines still complain of delays, inefficiencies, and occasional theft.

Several foreign carriers have voiced dissatisfaction, noting that they often deploy their own staff to maintain standards despite paying Biman's handling fees. 

Former CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal (Retd) M Mafidur Rahman earlier told media that, in a survey conducted by HSIA authorities, 93 airlines supported having multiple ground handling providers at the third terminal. 

Biman officials, however, remain confident as the airline says it handled over 57,000 flights in 2023 and has invested Tk 1,000 crore in 3,600 new pieces of ground support equipment in the past year while recruitment and training are ongoing, with additional procurement underway.

"Several types of equipment have already been added to Biman's Ground Support Equipment (GSE). Over the next few months, approximately 70 types will be delivered," a Biman spokesperson said, adding that outsourcing ground handling to foreign operators would cause "a substantial loss of national revenue."

The third terminal, built at a cost of Tk 21,300 crore with major financing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is expected to raise HSIA's annual passenger handling capacity to 24 million and cargo throughput to 1.2 million tonnes.

Spanning 230,000 square metres of floor space, the facility will feature 26 boarding bridges, 115 check-in counters, 66 departure immigration desks, 59 arrival immigration desks, and three VIP immigration desks.