A meeting was held between Bangladesh and Japan to further strengthen civil aviation, infrastructure development and mutual cooperation. On Tuesday (July 28) morning, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam and State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat paid a courtesy call on His Excellency UNO Yoshimasa, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan, at the conference room of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
During the meeting, discussions were held on the long-standing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Japan, mutual cooperation and Japan’s contribution to the development of Bangladesh’s infrastructure.
At the meeting, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said that all preparations are underway to inaugurate the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on December 16 as per the government’s plan. She also said that the necessary activities will be completed within the stipulated time.
State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat said that it is important to start the Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) program as part of the preparations for the launch of the third terminal, keeping in mind the possible inauguration deadline. He said that the submission of tenders by the Japanese Stakeholder Working Group (Japanese SWG) needs to be completed within the next month to start this program.
He also said that Japan is one of the oldest and most trusted development partners of Bangladesh. Japanese companies also play an important role in the construction of the third terminal of Shahjalal International Airport. He expects Japan’s overall cooperation to open the project to the public on time.
Uno Yoshimasa, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan, expressed hope for further expansion of Bangladesh-Japan cooperation. He said that Japan’s cooperation will continue in various ongoing development projects, including the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
After the meeting, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam and State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat handed over a model of Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to the Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan on the occasion of the resumption of Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ flights on the Dhaka-Narita route.
