Commerce minister urges rapid warehouse construction to ease airport cargo handling problems

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir today (17 August) called for the rapid construction of temporary and permanent warehouses to address longstanding cargo handling problems at the country’s airports.

He said the work should move forward on an urgent basis instead of being delayed by lengthy administrative procedures.

Muktadir made the remarks while chairing an inter-ministerial meeting at the Commerce Ministry conference room on enhancing airport cargo handling capacity and reviewing progress on warehouse construction to facilitate trade and investment between Bangladesh and the European Union.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam also attended the meeting.

Muktadir said responsibility for developing and managing airport infrastructure lies with the relevant authorities, while Customs is responsible for ensuring the legality of imported and exported goods, required declarations and documentation, and customs-related matters.

He said warehouse construction and infrastructure management are not the core responsibilities of Customs, adding that Customs would carry out its activities once the necessary infrastructure is in place.

Although the issue does not directly fall under the Commerce Ministry, he said it is closely linked to the country’s trade and export activities, particularly efforts to expand trade with the European Union.

To accelerate the work, Muktadir proposed an inter-ministerial coordination mechanism, with a Commerce Ministry representative if necessary, to improve coordination among the agencies concerned and speed up implementation.

He also stressed quickly identifying space for temporary warehouses, saying that if space needs to be rented or arranged through other means, decisions should be taken without delay.

The meeting also discussed increasing cargo handling capacity, speeding up cargo clearance and reducing barriers to business, alongside progress on permanent warehouse construction.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said the use of advanced technology for faster cargo clearance would add a new dimension to the country’s aviation sector.

She said efforts were under way to make Biman Bangladesh Airlines safer, more modern and more effective, while resolving longstanding technical and infrastructure problems remained a priority.

Afroza also stressed simplifying formalities while ensuring transparency and accountability, and said Bangladesh should aim to become a leader rather than a follower in the use of technology.

She urged the agencies concerned to work jointly to accelerate construction of both temporary and permanent warehouses.