The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the government to formulate a comprehensive long-term master plan for logistics sector to ensure a resilient and competitive trade ecosystem.
Speaking at a seminar titled 鈥楨nhancing Bangladesh鈥檚 Logistic Sector for Sustainable Economic Growth鈥� 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.
鈥楻educing logistics cost and boosting efficiency will be critical to survive in the international market,鈥� Taskeen said.
Citing the World Bank鈥檚 Logistics Performance Index 2023, where Bangladesh ranks 88th out of 139 countries, Taskeen said that logistical inefficiencies 鈥� such as port congestion, customs delays and fragmented infrastructure 鈥� were pushing logistics costs to 15-20 per cent 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 and ensuring seamless multimodal connectivity across road, rail, river and sea.
Taskeen 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.
Delivering the keynote, M Masrur Reaz, chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, said that improving logistics efficiency could bring immediate benefits.
鈥業f we reduce logistics cost by just 25 per cent, export earnings could rise by 20 per cent,鈥� he noted, urging implementation of a sub-sector master plan under the forthcoming National Logistics Policy.
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 鈥榠nformation superhighway鈥� to make the sector future-ready.
He pointed out absence of a coherent, forward-looking logistics blueprint in the country.
Other speakers also underscored institutional and investment gaps.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation chairman Md Salim Ullah and Business Initiative Leading Development chairperson Abul Kasem Khan emphasised long-term planning and proposed the formation of a separate ministry dedicated to logistics.
Abul Kasem recommended branding 2026-2035 as 鈥楲ogistics Decade鈥� to accelerate reforms.
Infrastructure experts highlighted the underutilisation of existing capacity and called for public-private partnership models.
Md Habibur Rahman of the Chittagong Port Authority stressed the importance of engaging private stakeholders to make the full use of the port鈥檚 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, 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.
