Bangladesh seeks UK support to lift EU high-risk cargo status

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat on Tuesday sought British support in efforts to have the European Union withdraw its High Risk Cargo and Mail (HRCM) status imposed on Bangladesh, saying the measure has increased both the time and cost of cargo handling.

The issue was discussed when British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke paid a courtesy call on the minister at his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka.

The minister and the high commissioner also discussed strengthening bilateral relations, modernising the fleet of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, UK investment in Bangladesh’s hospitality sector and developing the country as an aviation hub.

Millat said Biman currently faces a shortage of aircraft and that steps are being taken to add aircraft to its fleet on an urgent basis.

He said any aircraft procurement would be carried out with transparency and accountability, adding that the government would make purchases in line with the recommendations of the High-Level Negotiation Committee.

The minister said the European Union imposed the HRCM status on Bangladesh in 2017, resulting in increased time and costs in cargo handling.

He said the government had taken steps to have the status withdrawn and had initiated measures to install Explosive Detection Systems (EDS) at airports as required.

According to the minister, recent audits gave satisfactory ratings to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Sylhet Osmani International Airport.

The government therefore expects the European Union to take steps towards withdrawing the HRCM status, he said.

Sarah Cook said UK investors were interested in Bangladesh’s growing hospitality sector and that the United Kingdom was ready to support the government's efforts to develop Bangladesh as an aviation hub.

They also discussed Menzies Aviation’s interest in working with Biman Bangladesh Airlines on ground handling operations at the Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The meeting was held at the minister’s office at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday morning.