The UK and Germany have not yet lifted their ban on receiving air cargo directly from Bangladesh even though a British company was appointed nearly a year ago, which is training local staff to efficiently handle such airfreight, sources concerned said. The ban compels Bangladeshi companies to send air cargoes to the UK and Germany via third countries, imposing extra costs on the exporters. Australia has also banned direct air cargo from Bangladesh, but it does not cause problem to the exporters as there is no direct flight to Australian cities from Dhaka, sources said. The UK imposed its ban on air cargo from Bangladesh in March last year, citing security reasons. Germany, too, banned direct cargo flights from Dhaka in June last year citing same reasons.Officials and exporters dubbed the ban on air cargo a political one, adding that it has caused more harm to the country’s image than to the economy.“The UK and German ban on direct air cargo has sent a wrong signal to other countries in the European Union (EU). It is adding unnecessary costs to exports as cargoes are now rerouted through other airports before reaching these countries,” one of them said.They expected, however, that the UK, Germany and Australia would withdraw their ban on air cargo from Bangladesh very soon.The Bangladesh government appointed the UK-based Redline Assured Security in March last year to provide aviation security services at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Redline was awarded the job for two years hurriedly without any tender. The appointment came after the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) placed the interim ban on cargo out of Dhaka’s international airport to the UK on March 9. The DfT said recent security assessments of Dhaka international airport found that ‘some international security requirements were not being met’. Airlines carrying cargo between Bangladesh and the UK on indirect routes are being asked to ensure it is re-screened before its final leg into the UK, it said. When approached over the matter, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon told The Independent yesterday, “We are in regular touch with them to withdraw the ban and resolve the matter. They (DfT teams) are coming from the UK at regular intervals and assessing the improvement in cargo handling at our airport. They also gave us an assurance that the ban would be withdrawn.”As part of their visits, a DfT team is due to arrive in Dhaka this week to know the latest situation, the minister added.Replying to a question, he hoped Germany would follow the UK and withdraw its ban on air cargo directly from Dhaka.The minister said Australia did not communicate with Bangladesh on its ban on air cargo, but the Bangladesh High Commissioner in Australia is working with them.An additional secretary of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, AHM Zaiul Haque, said because of the ban, Bangladesh cannot send air cargoes directly to the UK. He, however, said that despite the ban on air cargoes directly from Dhaka, the dispatch of cargoes has not stopped.Bangladesh Biman sends cargoes to London by sharing the code of Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).“We also send air cargoes to Germany and Australia after completion of aviation security at a third country,” he said.Haque said the government appointed Redline Assured Security for two years to train local people to ensure efficient cargo handling for aviation security, conforming to international standards.Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Md. Siddiqur Rahman pointed out that their export costs have risen because of the ban. “We are now sending goods through third countries. It should be withdrawn immediately. If this continues for long, we may incur more loses,” he said.The BGMEA president further said imposition of a ban on Bangladeshi cargo is more harmful than the financial loss.The German ban has come into effect ‘because of information provided by our law enforcement authorities and intelligence services’ stating that cargo flying out of Bangladesh poses a security threat.Germany represents the second largest readymade garments (RMG) destination in the common market for Bangladesh (approximately USD 4.75 billion).According to Seabury Group’s cargo and global trade database information, fashion-related air shipments from Bangladesh forecast for 2016 are 13,204,767 kilograms. And forecasts for 2017–19 are 13,942,420 kg, 14,646,801 kg and 15,318,989 kg respectively.The Redline contract includes training for security officials and screeners appointed by the civil aviation ministry.UK-based aircargonews ran a report recently quoting Redline Chief Executive Paul Mason saying that the company was supposed to deploy nearly 40 of its members across a variety of aviation security functions, including manning screening points at passenger terminals and the cargo complex at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport, Dhaka.
