Newly appointed Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat on Sunday said the government is working to hold the soft opening of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s (HSIA) Third Terminal on December 16.
Speaking to journalists at his office at Bangladesh Secretariat on his first day in office, Millat outlined the government’s priorities for the aviation sector, including operationalizing the Third Terminal, resuming Dhaka-New York flights, expanding Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ fleet and advancing airport development projects.
He said steps are being taken to sign an agreement with a Japanese company in September in connection with the Third Terminal.
The government is also working to launch Dhaka-New York flights next year, while Millat expressed optimism that 10 leased aircraft could soon be added to Biman’s fleet.
Regarding Ishwardi Airport, he said the government is considering resuming flight operations soon to facilitate the transportation of radioactive materials for the nuclear power plant in Pabna.
On Jessore Airport, Millat said he had spoken with US-Bangla Airlines regarding flight operations following a decline in commercial flights at the airport.
He said a feasibility study for Bogra Airport is underway, while the government is hopeful of commissioning Cox’s Bazar International Airport in October.
Earlier in the morning, Millat formally joined the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and was received by officials and employees with flowers. He later attended an exchange-of-views meeting with officials of the ministry and its departments.
Addressing the officials, Millat said his first priority would be to remove coordination gaps between the ministry and its departments and build an effective team to inject greater momentum into the aviation and tourism sectors.
“I am grateful to Honorable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for entrusting me with the responsibility of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. Reshuffling is a normal process. Under the new leadership, we want to move the ministry’s activities forward by building a team,” he said.
For greater efficiency and coordination, Millat said he intends to work from either the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) or Biman Bangladesh Airlines office one day in every five working days.
“My first task will be to eliminate the lack of coordination between the ministry and its departments,” he said.
He told officials that good performance would be rewarded while poor performance would face consequences, stressing that they must move beyond “conventional bureaucracy” to make the ministry’s activities more dynamic.
He also underscored the need for innovative planning to move the aviation and tourism sectors forward.
