UK lifts ban on Dhaka-London air cargo
The UK government has withdrawn the ban on Dhaka-London direct air cargo. The route was made open after two years.
British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake declared this at a press conference at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Sunday.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shahjahan Kamal and Civil Aviation Authority member Mostafizur Rahman were present on the occasion.
In March, 2016 United Kingdom imposed ban on direct air cargo citing some security reasons. At that time inadequate security management at cargo village of Shahjalal airport and free access of outsiders were shown reasons for the ban.
The ban affected the profit of Biman. Because one of the main income sources of Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ is air cargo.
According to Bangladesh Biman source, Biman earned profit in 2016-17 fiscal year but in the last fiscal year its net profit decreased. Biman’s financial statement of the fiscal year 2016-17 was approved in its tenth annual general meeting on December 19.
There it was mentioned that the UK air cargo ban made an effect on Biman’s profit. In the fiscal year 2016-17 Biman’s air cargo shipment was 33 thousand 542 tons which was 40 thousand 931 tons in the fiscal year 2015-16.
Though UK has lifted ban but Bangladesh has to follow some conditions for continuing direct air cargo.
Of the conditions there are, Bangladesh should appoint two long term consultants over security of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, to follow the EU model for aviation security and United Kingdom and Bangladesh will evaluate the airport security jointly.
AH
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