UK suspension on cargo flights from Dhaka
BGMEA urges govt to take quick steps
UK restriction �unexpected�: Menon
UNB
Voicing concern over the suspension of carrying cargo on direct flights from Dhaka to the UK by the British government, BGMEA leaders yesterday urged the government to initiate an immediate government-level negotiation to have the restriction relaxed, reports UNB. President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Md Siddiqur Rahman came up with the call at a press briefing at BGMEA Bhaban in the capital, two days after the suspension of carrying cargo on direct flights by the UK government.
The countrys readymade garments export will be badly affected with the restriction as the UK is an important market for Bangladesh as readymade garments worth US$ 3 billion are annually exported to the European country, he said.
Siddiqur urged the government to take immediate steps for fulfilling the international security requirements at the countrys internationals airports within the March-31 deadline as given by the British government.
The government should inform the UK government about what measures Bangladesh is going to take for strengthening security at the airports and request it to relax the restriction till March 31 next, he said.
He said some 10-15 percent of RMG goods are exported through air shipments annually. If the restriction continues, many orders will be cancelled, resulting in increased air shipment cost for using indirect air flights.
The BGMEA President said Bangladesh exported readymade garments worth US$ 2 billion to the UK market with a 26.1 percent growth in the first six months of the current fiscal (2015-16), which is 12.42 percent of the total of RMG exports.
There must be weakness on any side as the British government showed security reasons behind the suspension. We should have met the security requirements within the time we were given. They imposed the suspension as security is inadequate, he said.
He said sending RMG samples to buyers will also be hampered with the suspension.
Noting that Australia banned air cargo from Bangladesh from December 19 last, Siddiqur said the Australian embargo now hits the RMG sector, but the UK market is more important for Bangladesh than that of Australia.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry yesterday described the UK decision unexpected.
The reaction came from an urgent evaluation meeting held at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon in the chair.
British High Commission in Dhaka found steps taken (on airport security) satisfactory. Under the circumstances, such temporary embargo is unexpected, said a Civil Aviation Ministry release issued after the emergency meeting.
Minister Menon and Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Khorshed Alam Chowdhury will perform their duties for a particular period each day at the Dhaka International Airport to expedite the joint efforts for improving security measures at the airport, the meeting decided.
The current situation over the airport security measures, including temporary embargo imposed by the UK on cargo carrying from Dhaka, were evaluated at the meeting.
Earlier, Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved a project worth Tk 90 crore to purchase modern ground handling equipments as per the directives given by the British authorities.
On Tuesday last, the British government said cargo will not be allowed on direct flights from Dhaka to the UK until further notice.
US teams due soon to discuss airport, cyber securities
Two US teams are likely to be here in Dhaka this month to discuss various issues, including airport and cyber securities, and future collaboration in these areas, reports UNB. A delegation, led by Alan Bersin, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Chief Diplomatic Officer for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Policy, is likely to be here in the last week of the current month, said Foreign Ministry sources.
Bersin oversees DHSs international engagement, serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary in all matters pertaining to international affairs, and is responsible for leading the Departments strategic planning and policy formulation functions. Before that, another delegation, led by Thomas Dukes, Deputy Coordinator for Cyber Issues at the US State Department, is likely to visit Dhaka on March 22-23.
