Due to high charge of cargo scanning and ground handling at Hazrat Shahjala International Airport (HSIA), businessmen are reluctant to use the country’s cargo transportation, a bad omen that results in the country’s loss of air cargo market. As the transportation cost is a major concern for the business group, they are moving where they get a low-cost offer for cargo transportation.
Hence, the goods, that were supposed to transport through HSIA, are now transporting through Kolkata airport via Benapole and Colombo Airport through Chattogram. Export businessmen said scanning, handling and including other charges are very high compared to neighboring countries. However, Biman Bangladesh Airlines blames unequal commercial competition of neighboring countries.
According to Biman statistics, its cargo transportation reduced by 3236 tonnes from July to October comparing the same time of the previous year. This also affects the ground handling of biman. As a result, earnings reduced by Taka 73 crore. Biman’s managing director Mokabir Hossain told media that, “In Kolkata, almost all companies cargo flights come to Kolkata airport, they are carrying cargo goods at any price they are being offered”.
Country’s freight forwarders demand that, besides high cargo cost, HSIA has inadequate infrastructures. Besides export-oriented goods, vegetables- fruits- shrimps exports are also reducing due to disproportion of country’s cargo cost with international airlines. However, supply chain experts are suggesting to keep quotas in the country’s local airliners to ensure early transportation of these early rotten products mentioned above.
To handle the rising situation, the government is going to purchase two cargo aircraft to boost the export of the country. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina said this to media while inaugurating Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner ‘Gangchil’ on August 22 at HSIA. According to freight forwards information, all cargo transportation cost, differ at least $0.06 to $ 0.07 comparing to HSIA with Kolkata and Colombo.
To this end, civil aviation and tourism ministry secretary Md Muhibul Haque told media that, to get better services, extra charge is always required. “The cargo cost is little high but now there are adequate facilities which were not available before”, he added. Biman's information showed that it has transported 36000 tonnes of cargo last year. During this time, the national flag carrier earned Tk 696 crore by cargo transportation and ground handling.