APPAREL makers are urging the Bangladesh government to repair cargo scanners to ease export flow through congested dahaka Airport, reports London's Loadstar.
A delegation from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association recently met civil aviation minister Mahbub Ali, urging Mr Ali to increase the number of explosive detection scanners (EDS) at the cargo village to speed up export cargo scanning.
'The air cargo situation is getting worse every day. Problems with loading and unloading trucks, problems due to lack of equipment during scanning, problems with bringing or storing equipment, and the result is an increase in fares per hour or day by the airline to cover the cost of operating flights,' said one forwarder.
Tower Freight Logistics managing director Nurul Amin declared both the explosives detection systems (EDS) machines were out of order, leaving only sniffer dogs able to examine US and EU-bound cargo.
'Aircraft are leaving 30 per cent - 40 per cent under load.' said Mr Amin.
Said a local forwarder: 'We are all victims of this helplessness. Every year we set and increase export targets. The Cargo Village used to handle 50/60 tonnes of cargo daily in 1970. In 2021, how is it possible to handle 1,100-1,200 tonnes of cargo a day in the same amount of space?'
Said Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association vice president Syed Md Bakhtiar: 'We pay six cents per kg for scanning. Where is that money? Why hasn't the authority bought new scanners or repaired the one that has been non-functional for nearly two years?'
Responding, Bangaldesh Civil Aviation Authority chairman M Mafidur Rahman said two new EDS, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency, were expected to be validated by the European Union by October.
'Thus, the number of EDSs in Dhaka Airport will be four, of which three will be running continuously, raising the cargo flow.' said Mr Rahman.
Mr Rahman declared that until the third terminal was ready for use, there was no chance to improve the situation further.
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A delegation from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association recently met civil aviation minister Mahbub Ali, urging Mr Ali to increase the number of explosive detection scanners (EDS) at the cargo village to speed up export cargo scanning.
'The air cargo situation is getting worse every day. Problems with loading and unloading trucks, problems due to lack of equipment during scanning, problems with bringing or storing equipment, and the result is an increase in fares per hour or day by the airline to cover the cost of operating flights,' said one forwarder.
Tower Freight Logistics managing director Nurul Amin declared both the explosives detection systems (EDS) machines were out of order, leaving only sniffer dogs able to examine US and EU-bound cargo.
'Aircraft are leaving 30 per cent - 40 per cent under load.' said Mr Amin.
Said a local forwarder: 'We are all victims of this helplessness. Every year we set and increase export targets. The Cargo Village used to handle 50/60 tonnes of cargo daily in 1970. In 2021, how is it possible to handle 1,100-1,200 tonnes of cargo a day in the same amount of space?'
Said Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association vice president Syed Md Bakhtiar: 'We pay six cents per kg for scanning. Where is that money? Why hasn't the authority bought new scanners or repaired the one that has been non-functional for nearly two years?'
Responding, Bangaldesh Civil Aviation Authority chairman M Mafidur Rahman said two new EDS, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency, were expected to be validated by the European Union by October.
'Thus, the number of EDSs in Dhaka Airport will be four, of which three will be running continuously, raising the cargo flow.' said Mr Rahman.
Mr Rahman declared that until the third terminal was ready for use, there was no chance to improve the situation further.
SeaNews Turkey
