In 1941, during the Second World War, the British government built a landing strip at Kurmitola, several kilometres north of Tejgaon, as a spare landing strip for the Tejgaon Airport, which at the time was a military airport, to operate warplanes towards the war fields of Kohima (then in Assam) and Burmese war theatres.

After the Partition of India in 1947, Tejgaon Airport became the first civilian airport in what was then East Pakistan (present day Bangladesh). During the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war, the then abandoned airstrip was bombed by Indian Air Force, thinking it to be the Tejgaon Airport as the base.

After independence, the Government of Bangladesh restarted works abandoned by the previous contractors and consultants during the war. The government decided to make the airport Bangladesh's main international airport and appointed Aéroports de Paris of France as its new consultants. The airport began operations in 1980 after the main runway and central portion of the present terminal building was formally opened by then President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman (assassinated in 1981) as Dacca International Airport ("Dacca" is the former spelling of "Dhaka"). The project was completed in 1983. Then President Abdus Sattar re-inaugurated the airport as Zia International Airport.

In December 1993, Biman Bangladesh Airlines launched a route to New York City via Delhi, Dubai and Amsterdam. The flight was operated by McDonnell Douglas DC-10s.

Biman later routed the outbound flight from Dhaka through Dubai and Brussels and the inbound one through Brussels. The company discontinued the service in July 2006.

In 2010, the government changed the airport's name once again, from Zia International Airport to the present name of 'Shahjalal International Airport', in honour of Shah Jalal, one of the most respected Sufi saints of Bangladesh.

On 6 December 2011, a Boeing 787-9 (flight ZA006) stopped for refuelling at Shahjalal International Airport during a distance, speed, and endurance record attempt. This aircraft, powered by General Electric GEnx engines, had flown 10,710 nautical miles (19,830 km) non-stop from Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington eastward to Shahjalal International Airport, setting a new world distance record for aircraft in the weight class of the 787, which is between 440,000 pounds (200,000 kg) and 550,000 pounds (250,000 kg). This flight surpassed the previous distance record of 9,127 nautical miles (16,903 km), set in 2002 by an Airbus A330. The Boeing 787 then continued eastbound from Dhaka to return to Boeing Field, setting a world-circling speed record of 42 hours, 27 minutes.

In July 2022, Biman inaugurated a route to Toronto using Boeing 787s. The flight from Dhaka to Toronto made a technical stop in Istanbul, the inbound flight was nonstop. Four months later, the airline routed the latter via Istanbul as well.

2025 fire

On 18 October 2025, at around 2:30 PM (BST), a fire broke out in the cargo section near Gate 8 of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka. Due to high flame and smoke all the flight were suspended and diverted to Kolkata Airport, Chittagong Airport and Sylhet Airport. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Service at 9:18 PM, enabling the airport to resume its operations. The Dhaka Customs Agents Association suspects that the fire was intentional.

Sheikh Bashir Uddin, the civil aviation advisor to the interim government, stated is too early to say if the fire was caused by sabotage. At least thirty seven unit of Fire Service, two fire units of Air Force, Navy, and BGB were involved in fighting the flames. The Bangladesh Army has been deployed to the airport to assist with search and rescue efforts. Investigations into the incident are underway, with committees formed by the Fire Service and local authorities. Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus stated that, The government will take immediate and firm action if any credible evidence of sabotage or arson is found.

At least 25 members of the Bangladesh Ansar have been injured in this incident. It caused severe damage to the cargo area, including sections where international courier goods and chemicals were stored. The fire also spread to the airport's post office, burning imported items such as chemicals, fabrics, and other materials. All cargo consignments were insured, and compensation is expected, although the total extent of damage is still being assessed. Initially, losses and damages are expected to cost around 10 thousand crores BDT (around US$800 million) to over US$1 billion. Experts fear that warehouses and an air express is completely burnt down.

Several flights were diverted to Kolkata, Sylhet and Chittagong. Airport operations were suspended, and the airfield was closed until 9 PM (BST). Biman Bangladesh Airlines has formed an investigation committee into the incident. The committee has been asked to submit an investigation report within the next 5 working days.