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Dhaka's Shahjalal Airport's cargo incompetence cripples nation's trade

POOR security at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has resulted in vanishing cargo which seriously damages Bangladesh's foreign trade, according to local media.

Inefficient air cargo and parcel handling and a lack of a secure warehouse to keep inbound and outbound goods and documents are crippling trade, say insiders, reports the Dhaka Financial Express.

Local businessmen and cargo handling companies say after unloading cargo, parcel or documents from the aircraft, they go missing because of a lack of secure facilities.

But Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) officials and those from Biman Bangladesh Airlines and customs they don't have the manpower or equipment to cope.

The difficulties are causing delay in handing over cargo, parcels and documents to customers on time.

Cargo and express operators in Bangladesh claimed the ground handling agent-Bangladesh Biman keeps documents and parcels in open space beside the runway.

Goods and documents often go missing or are damaged due in the rain, heat or any other impact of weather.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is the ground handling authority for all national and international flights in the Shahjalal International Airport.

It handles loading and unloading of cargoes, goods, parcels and documents for inbound and outbound aircraft and flights at the airport.

TNT country manager Tanjil Chowdhury said inefficiency, lack of automation and manpower are the major obstacles for their business operations in Bangladesh.

"We are ready to invest in developing dedicated warehouse for keeping parcels or documents at the airport before clearance for the customs," Mr Chowdhury said.

"But the government is not providing any dedicated space for the warehouse thus causing insecurity and delays in clearance procedures," he said.

Sources said only 16 local and international air express companies including DHL, FedEx, TNT, and UPS out of total 54 companies in Bangladesh have got spaces in the small warehouse.

"We usually import accessories of our garment items and product samples through air. But sometimes we receive those goods even after one to two weeks due to lack of logistics and facilities at the Dhaka airport," said Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) past president Antique Islam.

"The Shahjalal International Airport showcases Bangladesh. If it fails to handle passengers, cargo, parcels or any other things properly, it will carry a bad message to the world.