Ban on direct cargo flight to UK may go: Rushanara

The country has made laudable progress in safety and security services at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for lifting the ban on direct cargo flights from Dhaka to the UK, said Rushanara Ali, the UK Prime Minister's trade envoy for Bangladesh.

Ali, who is a member of the British parliament, said she has already raised the issue of ban to her prime minister.

“I am hopeful that there will be a good news soon,” Ali told journalists after a meeting with Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed at the secretariat office in Dhaka yesterday.

However, she did not say when the ban might be lifted.

Ali is in Dhaka on a week-long visit with a British business delegation to discuss different trade issues between the two countries. It is her second visit in less than a year.

The British government has imposed a ban on direct cargo flights from Dhaka to the UK in March last year on safety concerns at the Dhaka airport.

Following the ban, the UK-bound cargo flights needed to be rescreened at a third country's airport, preferably Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

The move has increased the cost of business for exporters in Bangladesh as the airlines have hiked the fees for the added step.

“We know the impact of the ban on direct cargo flights between the two countries. We have been doing our best to work with the authorities,” said Alison Blake, the British high commissioner to Bangladesh.

Nothing will change instantly and the change is depending on the ground services at the airport.

“I think there has been a great improvement,” Blake said, adding that officials from both the UK and Bangladesh will sit again at the end of this month to discuss the issue.

Commerce Minister Ahmed said he is hopeful that the ban will be withdrawn soon as a British company has been appointed to improve the safety and security measures at the Dhaka airport.

The UK is the third largest export destination for Bangladeshi products after Germany and the US.

Ahmed said the UK government has already assured that the country will continue the same duty-free benefit for Bangladesh even after Brexit.

“So, export to the UK might not be hampered,” he said.

The balance of bilateral trade between the two countries is heavily tilted towards Bangladesh.

In fiscal 2016-17, Bangladesh exported goods worth $3.57 billion and imported goods worth $330 million.

There is a ban on direct cargo flight from Dhaka to all EU countries.