Air cargo operations at Dhaka Airport in Bangladesh are facing significant challenges once again, as the explosive-detection scanners (EDSs) are malfunctioning. Currently, only one EDS machine at the airport is operational, leading to a backlog in cargo processing due to the increased demand and rates for air cargo out of the country this year.
President of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA), Kabir Ahmed, expressed concerns about the situation in a letter to the civil aviation authority. With three out of the four EDS machines at Dhaka Airport not functioning, outbound cargo is piling up inside cargo villages, causing delays and frustrations for freight forwarders.
Nasir Ahmed Khan, a director at BAFFA, highlighted the drastic increase in air exports through Dhaka in recent months, leading to a doubling or even tripling of freight rates to key destinations for Bangladeshi garment exports. Rates to Europe and the US have seen significant jumps, reflecting strong demand for apparel products.
The overall general cargo market in countries like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka has experienced notable increases in spot rates, driven largely by the demand for apparel items. Container shipping disruptions in the Red Sea have further contributed to rising rates in the region.
Despite the surge in cargo volumes passing through Dhaka Airport from December to March, the malfunctioning EDS machines are causing serious disruptions to shipments. Delays are exacerbated by equipment shortages, including crates used to transport cargo to aircraft, forcing reliance on explosive-detection dogs for security checks when the EDSs are not functioning.
Dhaka Airport has a history of problems with scanning machines, with several instances of failures in the past few years that have taken significant time to resolve. The current situation underscores the urgent need for maintenance and improvements to ensure smooth air cargo operations at the airport.
