Agility, a Kuwait-based global logistics company, published the score in its 15th annual edition, where Bangladesh climbed two notches up in the logistics index but kept languishing in the lowest position among four South Asian economies since 2019.
Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index 2024 has ranked Bangladesh 33rd out of 50 leading emerging countries.
In 2023, Bangladesh's position was 35, climbing up four notches over 2022, with a score of 4.53 out of 10.
Overall score of Bangladesh in 2024 is 4.6 while Pakistan scored 4.82 to grab the 29th standing followed by Sri Lanka's 26th position, Malaysia's 4th, UAE's 3rd, India's 2nd and China topping all.
Although Pakistan slipped three notches in 2024 from 26, Sri Lanka improved from its 30th position. China retained top slot as usual like in previous years.
On Domestic Logistics Opportunities, Bangladesh ranked 16th from earlier 17th, improving one step, while it slipped to 36th position in 2024 from earlier 33th in international logistic-opportunities gauge.
On business fundamentals, Bangladesh secured 42nd stand by climbing two notches up while jumping five notches to 30th on the digital-readiness strand.
To improve the country's logistics sector's index and bring discipline, the prime minister's office has drafted the country's first-ever logistics policy which is set to be finalized soon.
Logistics-sector investors have underscored the need for a lead coordinator to manage the enormous sector that is vital for pivoting economic and financial activity.
Industry-insiders say the unregulated logistics sector with no national policies and poor infrastructures has added up to the costs of imports at consumer-end, fueling inflationary pressures.
They find a lack of coordination among the relevant government agencies to handle the logistics sector.