UK lifts direct cargo ban unconditionally

The UK government has withdrawn the ban on direct cargo flight from Dhaka to London unconditionally which was imposed two years back on security grounds. 

The announcement was made by the British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake on Sunday at a press conference at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in the capital, reports BSS.

Civil Aviation Minister AKM Shahjahan Kamal also spoke at the conference. 

The British High Commissioner said the UK government has withdrawn the ban as the Bangladesh made satisfactory improvement on security grounds of the airport. 

Blake provided the minister with an official notice of the decision.

In the last two years, Bangladesh government made various efforts to have the ban gone including appointing a British company to improve the airport security. 

The minister described various steps taken by the government in improving the security measures at all international and domestic airports of Bangladesh. 

He hoped that Australia and Germany will also lift their existing the direct air cargo ban from Bangladesh following the British decision.

The UK had suspended direct air cargo from Shahjalal International Airport citing security reasons from March 2016.

Bangladesh later hired a British company to improve the security mechanism.

During his visit British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson had said the UK was pleased with Bangladesh's 'progress' on the issue and that the matter was all but settled.

Biman was the only carrier that operated direct cargo flights between Dhaka and London.

During the ban, the EU-bound cargo airlines from Bangladesh have to rescreen goods in a third country, preferably in Dubai, Qatar, Thailand or India.