Beef up airport security to get air cargo ban lifted

The Australian government suggested Bangladesh further improve security at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for withdrawal of the ban on air shipments from Bangladesh.

Greg Wilcock, the Australian high commissioner in Dhaka, made the call in a meeting with the leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) at the association's office on January 18.

The Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh has already taken an action plan to strengthen security in air cargo shipment, BGMEA said in a statement after the meeting.

Wilcock assured the BGMEA leaders that Australia will observe implementation of the plan and expressed his optimism about the withdrawal of the restriction, according to the statement.

“We urged the high commissioner to withdraw the ban as soon as possible as it is hampering our business with the emerging Australian market,” said Mohammed Nasir, vice-president of BGMEA.

“Our foreign ministry has also been lobbying with the Australian government to resolve the issue through discussion,” Nasir told The Daily Star.

The garment makers cannot send samples of their goods as per the requirements of the Australian retailers because of the ban.

Australia's Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development banned air cargo from Bangladesh, Syria, Egypt, Yemen and Somalia as a preventive security measure on December 19 last year. The goods include anything heavier than 500 grams.

The ban which will remain in force until further notice is applied equally to cargo carried on passenger and freight aircraft, the department added.

Earlier, BGMEA leaders sat with Australian retailer Kmart, and two other clothing companies—Woolworths and Target—that have outlets in Australia to express their concern and find a solution to the problem.

Australia is a promising destination for Bangladesh as exports from Bangladesh to the country are on the rise with higher demand for the locally-made, cheaper clothing items.

Last fiscal year, Bangladesh exported products worth $606.88 million to Australia, around 88 percent of which were apparel items, according to the Export Promotion Bureau.

Bangladesh's garment sector now enjoys zero-duty access to Australia.