Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat on Monday said Cox’s Bazar International Airport will be inaugurated in October next by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

“The airport will be formally inaugurated in October. Alongside Biman Bangladesh Airlines, different international airlines will also operate flights from Cox’s Bazar International Airport,” he said.

The minister made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with members of the Aviation and Tourism Journalists’ Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB), an organisation of journalists covering the country’s aviation and tourism sectors, at Bangladesh Secretariat.

Millat said work to transform Cox’s Bazar Airport into an international airport is progressing, while several foreign airlines have already expressed interest in operating flights from the country’s premier tourist destination.

He said initiatives have been taken to launch direct international flights from Cox’s Bazar through communication and coordination with international airlines.

Referring to the Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), the minister said the government is moving ahead with preparations to make the terminal operational in December.

“We are moving forward with the target of making the terminal operational in December. Necessary preparations are underway to this end,” he said.

Millat said an agreement with the Japanese consortium for the Third Terminal will be signed next month.

Once operational, he said, the Third Terminal will further enhance HSIA’s capacity and improve the quality of passenger services, helping ensure international-standard services at the country’s main international gateway.

During the meeting, ATJFB President Tanzim Anwar congratulated Millat on behalf of the organisation on assuming his ministerial responsibility.

ATJFB General Secretary Baten Biplob and other members of the organisation were present, among others.