DHAKA, Feb 4, 2026 (BSS) – Business leaders and experts today called for the urgent ratification and implementation of the National Logistics Policy (NLP) 2025 to enhance trade competitiveness and support Bangladesh's goal of reaching a US$ 760 billion GDP by 2030.

The call was made during a Focus Group Discussion titled “Framing the Logistics Sector Landscape: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Way Forward,” organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) at a city hotel, said a press release. 

The session brought together key stakeholders from the RMG, shipping, aviation, and development sectors, along with officials from the U.S. Embassy, Dhaka.

AmCham President Syed Ershad Ahmed underscored that while the sector has evolved, it continues to lag behind regional competitors and remains poorly understood domestically. 

He emphasized that global forces such as AI, automation, and decarbonization are reshaping the landscape, requiring Bangladesh to bridge knowledge and capacity gaps to support growing trade needs.

Highlighting the economic impact of the sector, Dr. M. Masrur Reaz, Chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, noted that a mere 1% reduction in logistics costs could increase national exports by approximately 7%. 

He pointed out critical structural risks, including a heavy 70% reliance on the Dhaka–Chattogram corridor and the absence of a central logistics authority. 

Dr. Reaz identified the Matarbari Deep Sea Port, Bay Container Terminal, and the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport as pivotal opportunities for long-term capacity building.

Regarding air logistics, Mahbubul Anam, Managing Director of CF Global, revealed that logistics costs at Dhaka airport are 20–25% higher than road transport.

He stressed the need for cost rationalization and noted that while clearance facilities exist for the EU, direct cargo flights and cargo clearance for the United States remain pending.

Nusrat Nahid Babi, Senior Transport Specialist at the World Bank, outlined a phased reform agenda focused on five pillars: policy simplification, multimodal infrastructure, skills development, digitalization, and investment. 

She specifically called for the formation of a Logistics Division under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as promised in the NLP 2025 to ensure high-level coordination.

On the financial and regulatory front, Md Moinul Huq, Citi Country Officer, urged customs authorities to operationalize the Customs Act 2023 by defining electronic document submission and payment modalities. 

He also advocated for greater flexibility in import and export settlements to reduce the country’s heavy reliance on letters of credit.

Participants at the discussion emphasized moving decisively from policy intent to implementation. 

They called for ending government monopolies in rail and air cargo, increasing private and foreign investment in cold chains, and deploying AI-enabled cargo visibility systems to enhance the resilience and efficiency of the national supply chain.