In response to India’s abrupt withdrawal of transshipment privileges, Bangladesh is significantly boosting its air cargo infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted exports and seize the opportunity to emerge as a regional logistics hub.
Authorities are racing against time to strengthen the nation’s independent freight capacity, with a major focus on operational efficiency, cost reduction, and infrastructure expansion.
India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs on April 8 revoked a four-year-old facility that allowed Bangladeshi goods, particularly ready-made garments, to transit through Indian ports to international destinations. The decision, which came without a clear explanation, disrupted a vital logistics lifeline that had proven crucial during COVID-19 pandemic.
Nearly 600 tons of garments—around 18% of Bangladesh’s weekly air exports—had been routed through Indian airports like Kolkata and Delhi.
Faced with soaring freight costs and logistical constraints, Bangladesh government, under the direction of Civil Aviation and Tourism ministry, has launched a series of measures to counter the fallout. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and Biman Bangladesh Airlines are jointly working to revise existing tariffs and streamline ground-handling operations, aiming to make air cargo services more competitive.বিস্তারিত
