The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has dismissed what it described as misinformation and rumours surrounding the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, saying the facility remains on track to begin operations in December.
In a statement issued on Sunday, signed by CAAB spokesperson and Assistant Director (Public Relations) Kawsar Mahmud, the authority urged the public not to be misled by inaccurate reports regarding the project's cost, contract implementation and financial management.
According to the statement, some recent reports in print and electronic media have presented partial or out-of-context information about the project's approved costs, contractual provisions and implementation process, which could create public confusion.
CAAB said that although construction of the terminal was completed nearly two years ago, commercial operations were delayed due to operational readiness, compliance with international technical standards and coordination with relevant stakeholders.
It added that those preparations are now in their final stages and that work is progressing with the goal of launching operations in December, in line with the government's announcement.
The authority warned that misleading information about the project could harm public confidence, damage the country's reputation among international partners and affect preparations for the terminal's launch. It also said such misinformation could negatively impact state revenue and the aviation sector's development.
CAAB also rejected allegations that Tk3,200 crore had been spent on the project without government approval, calling the claim inconsistent with approved project documents and actual expenditure records.
It said all project expenditures require approval from the Planning Commission following recommendations from the Project Implementation Committee (PIC), Project Steering Committee (PSC) and the relevant ministry.
According to CAAB, the project's original Development Project Proposal (DPP), worth Tk13,610 crore, was approved on October 24, 2017. After the procurement process, the first revised DPP, valued at Tk21,399 crore, received government approval on December 10, 2019.
The authority said Tk3,267 crore was later allocated for variation works. However, after adjustments based on actual project requirements, the second revised DPP was approved at Tk21,365 crore—Tk34 crore lower than the previous estimate—on December 7 last year.
CAAB said the project has so far incurred expenditure of Tk20,347 crore, which remains within the approved budget.
It urged all stakeholders to help prevent the spread of rumours and misleading information about the airport project.
