Special Correspondent :
An inter-ministerial body has asked the authorities to take immediate measures to deliver air cargoes round-the-clock from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) for overcoming any delays in clearing goods from the country’s prime airport.
The directive was issued after a meeting of the body held recently at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), with Principal Secretary Md Najibur Rahman in chair.
Business community earlier expressed concern over the delay in cargo handling and poor delivery at the airport, urging the authorities to take necessary steps to expedite the process to facilitate industrial production and external trade.
Sources said, the meeting issued several directives for the agencies concerned to enforce a 24 hours cargo delivery service, examined issued related to clearance of goods at cargo complex and suggested steps to simplify customs procedures relating to handling cargoes at the airport.
“The body has directed the concerned authorities to introduce uninterrupted cargo delivery from the HSIA in line with the demand from the business community. Imported goods will be released during weekly holidays through necessary arrangements,” a senior government official told The New Nation on Monday on condition of anonymity.
The official, who attended the meeting, said agencies concerned such as the National Board of Revenue, Bangladesh Bank, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Civil Aviation Authority–will make a concerted effort for 24 hours cargo delivery from the HSIA.
“To help release of imported cargoes round-the-clock, authorities have been asked to keep the LC opening bank surrounding the airport branches on Saturdays. Airport warehouses will be kept open up to 9pm every weekday or even for an extended time if any airway bill remains pending,” he said, quoting the meeting decision.
In case of submission of receipt of clearance of airway bills to customs on Thursday, the cargo delivery will take place on Saturday (in presence of Customs Officials) to ensure one stop cargo delivery service,” he added.
The inter-ministerial body, which is entrusted the task with improving service delivery at HSIA, also asked the authorities to introduce ‘pre-arrival processing’ of air cargoes and prepare ‘flow chart’ to expedite the customs procedure. Directive has issued to clear backlog of cargoes at the airport immediately, opening of a hotline to receive complaints and suggestions related to cargo delivery service.
Currently 500 to 650 tonnes of cargo transported every day from the HSIA.
When asked, A.M Mosaddique Ahmed, Managing Director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited, which is entrusted the task with ground and cargo handling at the HSIA, told The New Nation yesterday that Biman has already kept its services open for 24 hours a day. “Now it is the responsibility of other agencies to comply.”
Earlier, the government has enforced twenty-four hours operation at Chattogram seaport and Benapole land port considering the country’s growing external trade.
Business leaders welcomed the government’s latest move saying it will save time of cargoes delivery and expedite output. “Air cargo transportation has become a dimension of Bangladesh’s growing external trade. As bottlenecks remains in Customs clearance, we have to compromise competitiveness of local goods. Considering the factor, we urged the government to speedy delivery of imported cargoes from airport for the interest of the country’s export trade,” M Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) told The New Nation yesterday. He, however, appreciated the government’s move in this regard saying the round-the-clock cargo delivery would improve edge of local goods in the international market and improve lead-time of shipments.
The FBCCI leader also urged the authorities to boost security in cargo villages and warehouses, improve cargo-handling infrastructure and logistic support for smooth cargo operation at the HSIA.
Welcoming the government move, Abdus Salam Murshedy, President of the Exporters Association of (EAB) Bangladesh said, ” It took a vital decision which will help grow the country’s export trade further. We used to import very vital raw materials and accessories by air and delay in their clearance has a huge negative impact on factory output and production cost.” “Quick and smooth cargo clearance was our long-standing demand. The government move to 24 hours cargo delivery will definitely have a positive impact on the production of export-oriented industries,” he added.
Murshedy also suggested for improving cargo handling and storage capacities to the international standard at the airport to uplift image of the country in global arena.
