Need for a modern air terminal at HSIA

There have been several reports in the local dailies on the deteriorating condition of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA). Recently an international organisation reported that HSIA is among the worst 10 airports in Asia holding its position as 9th. HSIA should have a new state-of-the -art air terminal near the present air terminal. In the last two decades, the number of airlines using the HSIA has increased to almost 30 with some airlines having several flights a day. HSIA is now bursting at its seams and cannot handle the rush of passengers and cargo. The mockery of dividing the present air terminal into Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 has created more confusion among passengers. Whichever terminal you use, eventually you land in the same check-in counters, immigration and boarding bridges, and arrival hall.

The present government has a plan to develop a mega airport far away from Dhaka which may take decades to develop and would cost around tk. 80,000 crores, or may be more. But the urgency of having a modern air terminal at HSIA is undisputable. I believe ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) is also dissatisfied with the present situation prevailing at HSIA. If improvements are not made on an urgent basis, many airlines may discontinue their flights to Dhaka.

Ziauddin Ahmed
Gulshan, Dhaka