Govt moves to clear courier cargo outside the airport

Highlights:

• Government plans off-airport customs to ease Dhaka airport congestion
• Goods transferred sealed to licensed facilities within 20–25 kilometres
• Fire incident severely disrupted clearance, causing multi-day delays
• NBR drafted guidelines; stakeholder feedback needed before implementation
• Model follows global practice, aligning National Logistics Policy 2025
• Industry welcomes move, urges transparent criteria and quick cargo handover

To ease congestion caused by space constraints and disruptions following a fire incident, the government has taken an initiative to introduce alternative customs clearance facilities outside Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to expedite the release of courier and air express consignments.

Sources said the Chief Adviser's Office, the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) have begun working on launching alternative customs pathways for courier services.

A stakeholder meeting on the issue was held on 10 December at the Bida office, chaired by Lutfe Siddiqi, special assistant to the chief adviser. Representatives from import-export business associations and air express delivery service providers were also present.

According to Bida officials, under the proposed system, goods arriving at the airport will be transferred – while sealed and under direct customs supervision, tracking, and monitoring – to licensed and secure facilities located within 20-25 kilometres of the airport. Unpacking and customs clearance will be completed at these facilities, after which courier companies will deliver the consignments to customers.

The initiative is expected to reduce cargo congestion inside the airport, lower security risks, and minimise the likelihood of accidents such as fires in the future.

When contacted, NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan told The Business Standard on Thursday, "Discussions are ongoing on launching alternative customs pathways for courier services, but nothing has been finalised yet. We are ready to provide all necessary facilities to make trade easier."

Infograph: TBS

Following the 10 December meeting, Lutfe Siddiqi wrote in a Facebook post: "My colleagues in NBR and Bida have been working night and day to design alternative customs pathways for courier services at the airport. It is heartening to see all parties – both within government and private sector buyers, sellers and agents – working constructively together to help reduce the logjam."

Bida Executive Member and Head of Business Development Nahian Rahman Rochi told TBS, "Airport congestion has long been a concern for major investors and was further exacerbated following the recent airport fire incident. We appreciate NBR's proactive approach and look forward to stakeholders working collectively to review the proposed alternative and recommend a way forward for timely implementation."

He added that Bida's role is to facilitate coordination among stakeholders as the issue poses a significant challenge for investors.

Cargo clearance operations inside Dhaka airport have been severely disrupted since the fire incident, leaving businesses unable to clear samples and low-value consignments on time.

Industry insiders noted that countries like India, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea already operate similar off-airport customs clearance systems to ensure faster deliveries. NBR has reportedly drafted a proposal to introduce the system in Bangladesh, though businesses insist that clearance facilities should be located within 20-25 kilometres of the airport.

A business representative who attended the meeting told TBS, "After the fire incident, airport clearance has been taking two to six days. If alternative customs pathways are introduced, clearance time will be significantly reduced."

An NBR official said that globally, most countries do not conduct full cargo clearance within airport premises. Instead, clearance is handled at designated off-airport facilities to reduce congestion and security risks. Taking this into account, the NBR has proposed a new model similar to the off-dock clearance system used at Chattogram Port.

Sources said that at the "Air Express Service Delivery" meeting, the NBR informed stakeholders that it has proactively drafted guidelines to facilitate air express shipment clearance at pre-approved locations outside the airport.

The draft guidelines have been shared with customers, clearing and forwarding agents, industry bodies, and air express operators. Implementation will depend on stakeholder feedback and consensus, given the urgency and cross-sectoral nature of the issue.

From the government's side, the regulatory framework is already in place, and stakeholders are expected to review the guidelines and submit specific recommendations to NBR to enable swift implementation.

Sources noted that while systemic challenges usually take time to resolve, NBR's prompt and proactive response has been widely appreciated by the industry. The proposed framework is also expected to address long-standing concerns of international buyers, as off-airport air cargo clearance is a globally accepted practice.

The initiative aligns with the National Logistics Policy 2025, which emphasises reducing lead times for imports and exports.

Kabir Ahmed, president of the International Air Express Association of Bangladesh, said the system is widely used across the world and welcomed the move. However, he stressed the need for clearly defined criteria so eligible service providers can automatically qualify.

He added that the criteria should not be tailored to benefit specific firms and suggested forming a consortium of six to seven freight forwarders or express service providers to operate the system jointly. He also reiterated that the facility should be located within 25 kilometres of the airport.

Kabir further said service providers should be able to take custody of cargo within two hours of aircraft landing, with recovery completed within another two hours. A policy framework ensuring bonded tracking facilities would be required, as freight forwarders would provide bank guarantees and bear accountability, including advance payments to customs if necessary.

He noted that the model follows international standards, allowing for pre-clearance and bonded delivery even before taxes or duties are paid. Similar systems are already operational in India, Cambodia and other countries, helping reduce airport congestion, speed up customs processes and improve investor confidence.

NBR sources said stakeholders were given time until the end of the week to submit written feedback, after which the guidelines and regulations will be finalised.

A senior manager from an RMG company attending the meeting said the initiative is welcome but requires further study.

"Air consignments are critical for the RMG sector, as most shipments involve finished products and must be delivered within one to two days. Buyers allow an ex-factory lead time of 25-35 days, making efficient airport customs clearance vital."

He suggested strengthening and fully automating the airport import inspection section, adding that officers should verify bank proforma invoices against commercial invoices and conduct physical inspections where necessary. He also proposed installing a large display screen in the import area highlighting fraud or document mismatches to deter violations.