The government today stressed that the Japanese Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) must submit its tender next month to launch the Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) process, crucial to opening HSIA's Third Terminal by December 16.

The urgency was raised during a meeting between Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Ria and State Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat and Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Japan UNO Yoshimasa at the Bangladesh Secretariat here today.  

During the meeting, Khanam said the government is working to inaugurate the Third Terminal of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on December 16 this year in line with the directives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

She said the government would complete all necessary preparations in time to meet the targeted inauguration date. 

Millat stressed the urgency of beginning the ORAT process at the earliest as part of preparations to make the Third Terminal operational, keeping December 16 as the tentative inauguration date.

He said timely completion of the tender submission by the Japanese SWG would be necessary to pave the way for commencement of the ORAT activities.

The State Minister described Japan as one of Bangladesh's oldest and most trusted development partners and acknowledged the significant contribution of Japanese companies to the construction of the Third Terminal.

He sought Japan's overall cooperation in completing the necessary preparations to open the terminal to the public within the targeted timeframe.

The two sides also discussed the longstanding friendly relations between Bangladesh and Japan, mutual cooperation and Japan's contribution to Bangladesh's infrastructure and development.

Yoshimasa expressed hope for further strengthening Bangladesh-Japan cooperation and continuation of Japan's support for ongoing initiatives, including the HSIA Third Terminal project.

At the end of the meeting, Afroza and Millat presented Yoshimasa with a model of Biman Bangladesh Airlines' Boeing 787 Dreamliner, marking the resumption of Biman's flights on the Dhaka-Narita route.