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Parliamentary body wants quick cargo delivery at airport

Recommends reducing release time


FE Report | May 25, 2018 00:00:00


A parliamentary watchdog recommended Wednesday that legal measures be taken against the companies who will fail to take delivery of their goods on time.

The parliamentary standing committee on the ministry of civil aviation and tourism suggested reducing the time for auction of the goods piled up in the cargo shed.

The recommendations came during the discussion on the fast release of the goods arriving in the cargo flights at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).

Committee chairman Faruk Khan presided over the 37th meeting of the committee at Jatiya Sangsad (JS).

Biman told the committee that the national carrier now operates about 46 cargo flights a week.

It also referred to a data to highlight the miserable condition of cargo handling at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).

The Biman officials said that some 51,000 tonnes cargo arrived between May 01 and May 22, of which only 10,000 tonnes were released.

Faruk Khan asked the authorities to reduce the cargo release time to three days from the 21 days as per the policy.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which is responsible for cargo handling, blamed the importers, C&F agents and garment exporters for the state of affairs at the airport.

A Biman official said recently that they have kept the cargo department open 24 hours a day.

They said they have been successful in making the customs department agree for fast delivery of cargo.

But importers are reluctant to take the delivery on time.

Biman officials said they give a grace period of five days. They might charge demurrage if importers fail to take delivery of goods within this time.

But president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, who is a member of the Biman board, puts pressure on the authorities.

Biman officials blamed the BGMEA, importers and C&F agents for the "present miserable situation" at the cargo complex.

The complex has become a safety hazard for the authorities, the officials added.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Faruk Khan said that the committee has discussed the three-year route plan of Biman to be operated with the new aircraft.

A detailed discussion will be held after they (Biman) make a presentation in the next meeting, he said.

The committee suggested CAAB immediately increase the facilities at Saidpur airport as the number of passengers has increased significantly in recent times.

Mr Khan said the committee decided to discuss the terms and conditions of the various hotels and motels of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC).

The corporation has plans to give the hotels under the public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

About the resumption of Dhaka-New York flight, he said that CAAB has already fulfilled most of the conditions of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

He expressed the hope that Bangladesh will be upgraded to the category 1, paving the way for Dhaka-New York flights.

In another meeting of roads transport and bridges ministry, it was found that the committee members want to visit Japan to get practical experience of the metro rail.

Minister Obaidul Qader said that he discussed the matter with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the embassy.

But JICA did not respond as expected.

Preparations are underway to arrange the visit from the funds of the bridges division.

Committee chairman Ekabbar Hossain chaired the 30th meeting held at Jatiya Sangsad.

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