Good news for Bangladesh’s apparel manufacturers as the standing ban on direct air cargo shipment to the United Kingdom (UK) may be withdrawn soon, sources at Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry reportedly said.
UK’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is coming to Dhaka for a two-day visit on February 9 with the goal to elevate bilateral relations, the sources added (as reported).
Further, talks on lifting the ban on direct air cargo that has been standing in the way of apparel export for the last two years may also be held with the Government officials.
Earlier, during the visit of Rushanara Ali, the UK Prime Minister’s trade envoy for Bangladesh, last September, the British envoy spoke of lifting the ban on direct air cargo.
The UK is the third major destination for Bangladesh’s exports after US and Germany, over 82 percent of which is occupied by the sectors of apparel products – knitwear and woven garments.
From July-December last year, according to data from Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau, the tally of apparel export to the UK stood at US $ 1.85 billion, despite fears of ‘Brexit’.
Two years ago, due to security concerns over screening at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Britan suspended direct air cargo. Now, the cargo has to undergo screening in a third country before it can enter the UK from Bangladesh.
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu is optimistic about the withdrawal of the ban as he previously said a British company is overseeing improvements in safety and security measures at the Dhaka Airport.