Dhaka, May 17 -- For the past two years, the third terminal of Shahjalal International Airport has repeatedly been described as being in its "final stages", but the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) now says completion is genuinely within reach.

Aiming to start operations swiftly, the CAAB is moving towards signing an agreement by June with a Japanese consortium comprising four companies.

Once the deal is finalised, the consortium will begin staff recruitment and training, followed by a trial run of the terminal.

The CAAB hopes to open the eye-catching new terminal to passengers by the end of this year.

Speaking at his office on Wednesday, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan said the authority is oversee...