Cargo villages should be built outside airports: commerce minister

Separate cargo villages equipped with modern storage facilities should be built outside airports to tackle the ongoing cargo backlog, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said today.

Airports should function as transit points for the arrival and departure of goods rather than as warehouses, he said, noting that prolonged cargo accumulation creates congestion.

The minister made the remarks at a discussion on the airport cargo handling crisis and possible solutions, held as part of efforts to address non-tariff barriers raised by the European Union (EU) and encourage trade and investment between Bangladesh and the EU, according to a press release.

Of Bangladesh's three international airports, only Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka currently has a cargo village.

Speaking at the event, participants noted that daily cargo clearance currently roughly matches incoming volumes, but limited services on Fridays and Saturdays prevent the backlog from being reduced.

To address this, the minister called for customs and related services to remain operational on holidays until permanent infrastructure is put in place.

"As activities are limited on Fridays and Saturdays, the volume of accumulated cargo at the airport is not decreasing," he said.

Taking into account demand over the next 10 years, separate management systems should be developed for hazardous, non-hazardous, fast-moving, and slow-moving cargo, the minister said.

"This will make cargo operations more efficient and meet international standards."

Efforts are underway to formulate both short-term and long-term solutions, he added.

"An aircraft arriving in the country and the experience of clearing goods at the airport are the first introduction to Bangladesh for foreign buyers and investors. That experience can in no way be negative," he said.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said the cargo backlog is not only causing losses for businesses but also damaging Bangladesh's image internationally.

"There is a risk of accidents at any time. Therefore, the cargo congestion must be reduced quickly to ensure normal operations at the airport," she said.

The minister called on the relevant agencies to show visible progress within the next seven days.

She said pressure on cargo handling could be reduced through the quick disposal of detained and confiscated goods and by making alternative storage arrangements.

Other participants said modernising cargo management and ensuring logistics services that meet international standards would strengthen Bangladesh's export capacity in global markets, including the EU.

The meeting was presided over by Commerce Secretary Ataur Rahman Khan and attended by representatives of relevant government agencies, business organisations, cargo operators, and customs authorities.