The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) has urged the government to formulate a comprehensive long-term master plan for the logistics sector to ensure a resilient and competitive trade ecosystem.
Speaking at a seminar titled ‘Enhancing Bangladesh’s Logistic Sector for Sustainable Economic Growth’ held at the DCCI auditorium on Saturday, DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed warned that without a robust logistics framework, Bangladesh could lose its edge in global trade.
“Reducing logistics cost and boosting efficiency will be critical to survive in the international market,” Ahmed said.
Citing the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index 2023, where Bangladesh ranks 88th out of 139 countries, Ahmed said logistical inefficiencies—such as port congestion, customs delays, and fragmented infrastructure—are pushing logistics costs to 15–20% of GDP, nearly double the global average.
He stressed the urgent need for upgrading major ports, including Chattogram and Mongla, with modern systems like container scanners, AI-driven traffic management, and flexible tariff structures to ease trade bottlenecks.
The DCCI President also recommended creating digital platforms to connect shippers and transporters, encouraging the use of warehouse management systems (WMS), and ensuring seamless multimodal connectivity across road, rail, river, and sea.
Ahmed suggested scaling up platforms such as ASYCUDA and the National Single Window to streamline customs procedures and minimise corruption.
He also called for policy and fiscal incentives to encourage private-sector investment in inland container depots (ICDs).
Delivering the keynote, Dr M Masrur Reaz, Chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, said improving logistics efficiency could bring immediate benefits. “If we reduce logistics cost by just 25%, export earnings could rise by 20%,” he noted, urging implementation of a sub-sector master plan under the forthcoming National Logistics Policy.
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Dr Sheikh Moinuddin, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, echoed the need for an integrated, multimodal system supported by a digital “information superhighway” to make the sector future-ready. He pointed out the absence of a coherent, forward-looking logistics blueprint in the country.
Other speakers also underscored institutional and investment gaps.
BIWTC Chairman Md. Salim Ullah and Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) Chairperson Abul Kasem Khan emphasised long-term planning and proposed the formation of a separate ministry dedicated to logistics.
Khan recommended branding 2026–2035 as the ‘Logistics Decade’ to accelerate reforms.
Infrastructure experts highlighted the underutilisation of existing capacity and called for public-private partnership (PPP) models.
Md Habibur Rahman of the Chittagong Port Authority stressed the importance of engaging private stakeholders to make the full use of the port’s projected 10-million TEU capacity by 2030.
IDCOL CEO Alamgir Morshed identified the lack of long-term financing as a key constraint, suggesting the introduction of bond instruments to fund infrastructure projects.
Representatives from DP World and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), including Shamim Ul Huq and Humayun Kabir, advocated for rapid digitisation and reiterated international support in implementing logistics policy.
Panellists also recommended increasing the number of compliant ICDs, expanding cold-chain logistics, and enhancing inter-agency coordination. Senior officials from DCCI, BARVIDA, the Bangladesh Supply Chain Management Society and former business and port leaders also spoke at the event.