BMirror Desk: Bangladesh is rapidly enhancing its air cargo infrastructure in response to India’s unexpected suspension of third-country transshipment. The country is taking immediate measures to increase capacity, allocate manpower, and lower costs to guarantee the seamless export of essential goods, especially ready-made garments.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national carrier and exclusive ground-handling provider, are collaborating on comprehensive initiatives to ensure continuous cargo operations.
“We (CAAB and Biman) are working together to update the existing civil aviation and ground-handling fees to make air cargo more affordable,” stated CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan in an interview with BSS on Saturday.
He mentioned that the government intends to establish a task force, led by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and including all relevant stakeholders, to simplify and reduce costs related to cargo operations.
“We have been directed at the highest levels to maintain air cargo operations despite external challenges… We anticipate announcing reduced handling fees very soon,” he added.
CAAB has already increased staffing at the cargo terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).
Moreover, Osmani International Airport in Sylhet is scheduled to commence full cargo operations on April 27, with Chattogram to follow soon after. Efforts are also being made to streamline customs clearance processes.
On Friday, the CAAB chairman visited Sylhet airport to assess the preparations and directed officials to ensure the terminal is fully operational by April 27. Bhuiyan stated, “Our current infrastructure will soon accommodate two to three times more cargo in anticipation of the opening of HSIA’s Third Terminal,” highlighting the impressive capacity of Sylhet’s modern cargo terminal.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Managing Director and CEO of Biman, emphasized the urgency of the situation, confirming the hiring of new cargo staff to manage the expected increase in shipments redirected from India.
Biman’s Director of Cargo, Shakil Miraz, mentioned that the airline is gearing up to offer ground-handling services in Sylhet, where Galistair Aviation’s Airbus A330-300 freighter is set to carry 60 tonnes of ready-made garment (RMG) cargo to Spain on April 27.
“We have already moved ground-handling equipment from Dhaka to Sylhet and are prepared to launch operations,” he stated, adding that Biman is in the process of hiring 400 additional ground handlers to enhance its existing team of over 700 personnel at HSIA.
Last week, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, who is now overseeing the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, met with industry stakeholders to explore viable alternatives and address challenges.
BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury reiterated the government’s dedication to fostering a business-friendly environment. “Air cargo infrastructure is essential for trade facilitation and attracting investment,” he remarked.
Once fully operational, the Third Terminal at HSIA is projected to increase annual export cargo capacity from 200,000 tonnes to 546,000 tonnes, featuring a dedicated 36,000-square-metre cargo area equipped with automated systems and expanded storage facilities.
Kabir Ahmed, the President of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA), commended the forthcoming Third Terminal, describing it as “the finest of its kind” and likening it to the advanced airport infrastructure found in Singapore, which features state-of-the-art scanning, testing, and temperature-controlled storage facilities.
Earlier this month, India made the decision to terminate a four-year transshipment agreement that allowed cargo to be routed through airports such as Kolkata and Delhi, a system that had been established during the COVID-19 pandemic. This arrangement had become a crucial logistics solution, providing quicker and often more cost-effective shipping options.
BAFFA reported that approximately 600 tonnes, or 18 percent, of Bangladesh’s weekly air exports of garments were sent through India.
Currently, Bangladesh exports around 3,400 tonnes of garments by air each week, while Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s (HSIA) cargo village, initially designed for 300 tonnes per day, frequently manages over 1,200 tonnes during peak times.
A senior official from Biman noted, “Indian airports offer more economical options for cargo flights in and out.”
Prominent airlines such as Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines operate dedicated cargo flights exclusively from Dhaka’s HSIA. Alternative routes from Bangladesh are expected to meet the longstanding demand for cargo services from Sylhet and Chattogram.
Mohammad Hatem, President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), minimized the long-term effects of India’s suspension, highlighting that goods worth $460 million, with garments accounting for half of that total, have been exported through India over the past 15 months.
“If Sylhet airport enhances its efficiency, that volume could easily double,” he stated, expressing confidence that Bangladesh is on the verge of becoming a regional air cargo hub—an opportunity that Dhaka is now eager to seize.
