Commerce minister stresses need for cargo village outside Dhaka Airport to ease congestion

Dhaka: Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on June 25 stressed the need to establish a separate cargo village outside Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) to address the persistent cargo congestion that has disrupted trade and logistics activities.

Speaking at a meeting at the Ministry of Commerce on the airport's cargo handling crisis and possible solutions, the minister said an airport should serve as a transit point for goods rather than a storage facility.

He noted that prolonged cargo stays at the airport have created severe congestion, affecting trade and logistics. To address the issue, he underscored the importance of establishing a modern and secure cargo village outside the airport.

"We must plan for the next decade. Separate arrangements should be developed for hazardous and non-hazardous cargo, as well as fast-moving and slow-moving goods, to ensure efficient and internationally compliant cargo management," Muktadir said.

The minister also stressed the need to keep customs and related services operational during weekly holidays, saying cargo volumes remain high because operations are limited on Fridays and Saturdays.

"Cargo volumes at the airport are not decreasing because operations remain limited on Fridays and Saturdays. Until permanent infrastructure is developed, customs and other related services should remain operational during holidays," he said.

The meeting, which also reviewed non-tariff barriers raised by the European Union in the context of promoting Bangladesh-EU trade and investment, was informed that although almost the same volume of cargo arriving daily is being cleared, the large backlog accumulated earlier remains largely unchanged.

Stakeholders identified limited operations during weekly holidays as one of the key reasons behind the slow reduction of the backlog.

The commerce minister said all stakeholders were showing a positive attitude towards resolving the problem and that both short-term and long-term solutions were being pursued. Another meeting will be held next week to review progress and determine further actions.

He added that the experience of cargo clearance at the airport forms the first impression of Bangladesh for foreign buyers and investors, stressing that such an experience should not be negative.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said the cargo congestion was not only causing losses to businesses but also affecting Bangladesh's image abroad.

Calling for visible progress within the next seven days, she warned that the situation posed safety risks and urged all concerned agencies to take immediate steps to reduce congestion and restore normal airport operations.

She suggested easing pressure on cargo facilities through the quick disposal of detained and confiscated goods and by creating alternative storage arrangements.

Commerce Secretary Ataur Rahman Khan chaired the meeting, which was attended by representatives of relevant government agencies, business associations, cargo operators, and customs authorities.