Export Promotion Bureau addresses air freight challenges

The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) held a meeting with the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Biman Airlines, and foreign airlines to discuss streamlining export shipments by air, air freight management, and other related issues.

Md Anwar Hossain, EPB vice-chairman, presided over the meeting held on Sunday at the EPB conference room, according to a press release.

The meeting identified air transport as one of the most important sub-sectors of logistics management and highlighted existing problems at airports, such as explosive detection scanners, a shortage of warehouse space, unregulated spot prices, and inadequate airport infrastructure to facilitate export trade.

Additionally, the cargo village at the third terminal, cool chain management, and other relevant facilities were discussed.

Given the inadequacy of the cargo village at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, discussions were held to ensure the availability of cargo handling facilities at Sylhet and Chattogram airports to facilitate export operations by air.

The meeting highlighted that if responsibilities such as explosive detection machines and warehouse management were given to Bangladesh Biman, it could bring dynamism to airline transportation, one of the sub-sectors of logistics management.