Exporters suffer as air cargo ban lingers

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Bangladeshi exporters claim the country is failing to address concerns that resulted in the UK and German governments imposing a ban on direct flights from the country. In this slightly topsy-turvey piece (the latter half will be of greater interest), in Bangladesh’s Daily Star, an anonymous exporter says the security measures being taken by the government are not adequate to satisfy the British and German authorities. As a result, flights are having to be routed via the likes of Dubai, Kuwait and Turkey, where they are being re-screened before being sent on. According to the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association, this has resulted in stricter timelines and a hike in freight charges by foreign carriers. All of which has had a disastrous effect on Bangladeshi exports.