Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) operates six premium lounges providing international-standard food and facilities, with meals sourced from leading five-star hotels including Westin and InterContinental.

Food vlogger Sagard Rashid, also know as Dr. Foodie through his YouTube channel, informed this in his vlog uploaded on Thursday (February 12).

MTB Air Lounge, operated by Mutual Trust Bank, serves breakfast items including paratha, French toast, bhuna khichuri, eggs, vegetables, sausages, pancakes, salad, cake, butter, jam, coffee and juice. Lounge displays qualifying credit card categories for access at entrance.

EBL Sky Lounge, largest among airport facilities, receives food supplies from Westin Hotel. Breakfast menu features salad items, paratha, vegetables, scrambled eggs, bread, cornflakes, eggs, beef bhuna curry, khichuri, chicken sausage, fruits and desserts. Soft drinks, juice and coffee are available at beverage station.

Facility includes smoking area, prayer room, waiting area, sitting area and reading corner. Breakfast service continues until 11:30am, followed by lunch service. Sagard praised khichuri as ‘very fluffy and flavourful’ with tasty beef.

UB Imperial Lounge provides access to United Commercial Bank credit cardholders. Lounge also serves Westin-prepared meals but maintains smaller space compared to EBL facility. Management restricts video recording inside premises, allowing only photography.

AmEx Platinum Lounge requires City Bank AmEx credit card for entry. Facility features child care room, mini library, business center, prayer space and washrooms. Food section offers rich continental items with supplies from InterContinental Hotel. Dessert section and beverage stations include soft drinks, juices and coffee.

Balaka Lounge, operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines under name Maslin Lounge, serves banks without dedicated airport facilities. InterContinental Hotel supplies food for this lounge. Evening menu includes heavy items like polao, chicken and beef.

Sagard noted that polao was ‘very flavourful’ and praised overall food quality. City Bank American Express maintains separate lounge within Balaka facility.

Credit card benefits extend beyond lounge access, with banks now offering airport pick-and-drop services and additional facilities. Prospective cardholders should confirm lounge facility availability when applying for bank cards.

Comparative assessment found Bangladeshi airport lounges superior to many international counterparts in food quality, taste and service standards. Sagard visited multiple country lounges and rated local facilities as ‘much better’ than numerous foreign airports.

All lounges maintain breakfast service during morning hours, typically switching to lunch menu around midday. Seating capacity varies, with EBL Sky Lounge offering most spacious accommodation while UB Imperial operates more compact facility.

Food presentation follows international standards with dedicated corners for main courses, continental items, beverages, desserts and fruits. Prayer facilities and business amenities cater to diverse passenger requirements.

Premium lounge access remains tied to specific credit card categories, with eligibility information displayed at each entrance. Facilities compete by partnering with recognized hotel brands to ensure quality standards.

Airport authorities maintain six operational lounges serving domestic and international passengers departing from Dhaka. Services aim to provide comfortable pre-flight experience with complimentary food, beverages and amenities for eligible credit cardholders.