Minister orders 24/7 import cargo clearance at Dhaka airport to ease congestion

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam has
instructed all agencies involved in import cargo handling at Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport (HSIA) to ensure round-the-clock operations throughout
the week to reduce congestion and prevent cargo backlogs.
The directive was issued at a
meeting on import cargo management held at the headquarters of the Civil
Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) today (7 June).
Speaking to The Business Standard,
CAAB Member (Operations and Planning) Air Commodore Abu Sayeed Mehboob Khan
said the meeting focused on preventing cargo accumulation at the airport and
reducing risks associated with goods remaining in storage for prolonged
periods.
He said cargo often remains uncleared on Fridays and
Saturdays, resulting in unnecessary stockpiling at the airport's Cargo Village.
"To address the issue, the
minister directed all relevant agencies to ensure cargo clearance services
remain operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with adequate manpower
available at all times," Mehboob Khan said. "This will help prevent
cargo congestion and minimise safety risks."
The meeting also discussed Friday
night's fire at a warehouse operated by courier company DHL inside the
airport's Cargo Village. According to officials, the blaze was relatively minor
and was quickly brought under control.
CAAB has formed a five-member
committee to investigate the incident and asked it to submit its report within
seven working days. The committee is expected to submit its findings by 16
June, Mehboob Khan said.
The latest fire broke out in a
warehouse where auction-bound goods were being stored. The incident comes less
than a year after a major fire on 18 October last year destroyed goods at the
same Cargo Village.
Officials involved in that
investigation said the blaze had also originated at a DHL-operated facility.
Following Friday's incident,
several intelligence agencies questioned five DHL officials as part of the
ongoing investigation.
Mehboob Khan said the government
had issued directives based on the findings of last year's investigation and
that the concerned agencies have been implementing those recommendations.
However, Sunday's meeting did not specifically review progress on those
measures.
Representatives of exporters,
importers and freight forwarders attended the meeting.
While CAAB does not directly
oversee import cargo clearance, it manages airport facilities where the process
takes place. After cargo is unloaded from aircraft, Biman Bangladesh Airlines,
acting as the ground handler, transfers the goods to designated storage areas.
Customs authorities and C&F agents then complete the clearance process
before the cargo is released.
The meeting was attended by State
Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Secretary Fahmida Khatun, CAAB Chairman
Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq and other senior officials.
















