Australia is set to review the enhanced security arrangements at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka in March next year before deciding on the resumption of direct cargo service between the two countries.
The direct cargo service between Dhaka and Canberra remained suspended since December 2015.
A representative of the aviation and maritime security division of the department of home affairs, Australia, will evaluate the beefed-up security measures taken by the government, said a source familiar with the developments.
The Australian representative will observe the present security arrangements for the outbound air cargoes and increase its understanding of Bangladeshi national oversight of the air cargo arrangements, he added.
The visit of an Australian representative was scheduled to take place in November. But Australia has postponed the visit recently and requested a new schedule of the visit in 2019.
Tom Lees, director Air Cargo policy, Air Cargo Security Branch of Aviation and Maritime security division, Australia, wrote a letter to Md Sayfullah, commercial counsellor at the high commission of Bangladesh in Canberra, recently.
"As there are a number of domestic activities that we will need to complete before a representative of the Aviation and Maritime security division of department of home affairs can attend DAC, a visit can no longer be scheduled for some time in November 2018," the letter reads.
However, Australia and Bangladesh should continue to work on an itinerary, said the letter. "We request that the visit now take place in February or March 2019."
One of the visit's objectives will allow matters relating to export air cargo from HSIA to Australia to be fully canvassed, according to the letter.
The commercial counsellor has asked the ministry concerned to fix two dates in as early as February for the visit to HSIA.
Otherwise, the general election in Australia which is likely to be held in April or May can delay the visit of the Australian representative for an indefinite period.
Australia is the first country to impose a ban on direct cargo flights from Bangladesh on December 19 in 2015 on the security grounds at HSIA.
In March 2016, the UK did the same citing similar reasons and placed some conditions to get the direct flights resumed.
Germany has also slapped the ban on direct cargo flights on the same grounds.
Following the ban, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) took multiple measures to address the concern of these countries. It appointed a British company, Redline Aviation Security Limited, to meet the safety requirements at the airport.
The government also installed the required number of explosive detection system and deployed explosive detection dogs for cargo scanning in order to enhance the safety and security measures.
Since 11 May 2016, Australia has prohibited air cargo that has originated from, or transited through, Bangladesh, unless it has undergone security examination at an approved last port of call before travelling to Australia or is otherwise exempt from examination under Australian regulations, according to the information from the webpage of department of home affairs, Australia.
The approved last ports of call are Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hong Kong or Guangzhou.
Managing Director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines AM Mosaddique Ahmed could not be reached over phone for comments.
A Biman official said, "We are fully convinced that Australia will lift the ban on direct cargo flights from Bangladesh, as we have taken adequate security measures."
Presently, the security arrangement at the HSIA is of global standard, he added.
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