Staff Correspondent

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam has said that integrating cutting-edge technology for rapid cargo clearance will usher in a new era for the country's aviation sector.

She made the remarks today while addressing an inter-ministerial meeting at the Ministry of Commerce conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday.

The meeting focused on resolving cargo handling bottlenecks at the airport through the construction of permanent and temporary warehouses, with Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir presiding over the session.

Speaking as the chief guest, Afroza Khanam emphasized that concerted efforts are underway to transform Biman Bangladesh Airlines into a safer, more modern, and efficient institution. Resolving longstanding technical and infrastructural challenges is a top priority, she noted, stressing the importance of streamlining formalities while ensuring transparency and accountability in decision-making.

Addressing the adoption of artificial intelligence, the minister asserted that the nation aims to shift from being followers to leaders in technological innovation.

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir clarified that constructing and managing airport infrastructure falls under the purview of designated authorities, whereas customs' primary role is verifying import-export legality and processing duties rather than building warehouses.

While noting that airport logistics do not fall directly under his ministry's administrative jurisdiction, the commerce minister underscored its vital nexus with national trade and export performance.

The meeting featured detailed discussions on seven potential locations for establishing a temporary warehouse and four prospective sites for a permanent warehouse to alleviate cargo congestion.

The high-level meeting was attended by Commerce Ministry Secretary Md. Ataur Rahman, Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Secretary Fahmida Akhter, the Managing Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), and senior officials from the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Bank, and other relevant ministries.