Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called upon the government to bring a quick solution to the temporary embargo on direct air cargo shipment slapped by the UK and Australia.
On March 8, the UK imposed the temporary ban on direct air cargo shipment from Dhaka to London, citing security issues while Australia came up with the same move in December last year.
UK's Department for Transport in a post said a recent security assessment found that Dhaka airport was yet to meet some international security requirements.
“As part of a set of interim measures, cargo will not be allowed on direct flights from Dhaka to the UK until further notice,” it read.
Expressing grave concern, the DCCI authorities said the embargo would cast adverse impact on exports of products to the UK, the third largest garment export destination after Germany.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines carries cargo directly to London with its four weekly passenger flights. Each flight to the UK carries an average of 25 tonnes of cargo, mostly apparels, vegetables and agricultural products.
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The DCCI members urged the Bangladesh government to work jointly with the UK and Australia in order to meet the security requirements placed by the countries.
The business leaders expressed concern that if the ban is not lifted immediately, the Bangladeshi exporters have to send their products through Singapore or Hong Kong or Thailand or Dubai which will increase the transportation costs and time.
The alternative procedure will hurt Bangladesh's business to the UK market, said the DCCI members.