Airport cargo handling still a problem

Space constraints, scarcity of manpower, inefficient ground handling equipment and incidents of theft are the nagging problems associated with the cargo village at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. A report published in this paper on November 24 found that goods are left strewn out in the open, on the tarmac because of space constraints. These are not the only problems. The bigger issue of ensuring security after a series of bans on direct air cargo flight out of the airport by Australia last December followed by Germany in March and the UK in June, we find to our dismay that not much has improved. Despite claims to the contrary about putting into effect a series of measures by way of purchasing requisite equipment and hiring a British aviation security company at considerable cost to the national exchequer, we find that most of the equipment have not been operationalised. 

And it is not only about security equipment, but the recruitment process that was supposed to induct 300 ground handling staff is still ongoing, and we are assured that will be done by end of November. All in all, not a very confidence boosting situation and we really must get our act together. With the ban still on three major destinations, there is much consternation amongst exporters that unless the loopholes in the system are addressed soon, more countries in the European Union (EU) may follow suit. That is something we simply cannot afford because already exporters are counting extra costs by rerouting their cargo through a third country. Our focus should be to expedite putting in place security measures and improving management at the airport as soon as possible to get the existing bans lifted.