The UK government has announced it has lifted restrictions on the transport of cargo on direct flights between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.
The ban was imposed in March 2016 after a UK Department for Transport security audit revealed serious screening concerns at Dhaka Shahjalal International Airport. British firm Redline Aviation Security was subsequently tasked with rectifying the situation.
"Following ongoing cooperation with the government of Bangladesh on the standards of aviation security at Dhaka International Airport, the Department of Transport has removed the interim restrictions suspending the carriage of cargo on direct flights from Dhaka to the UK," the DOTr said in a statement on February 19. "The UK government will continue to work with the government of Bangladesh to support ongoing improvement in standards for all aspects of aviation security."
Although the moratorium has been lifted, operators such as Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG, Dhaka) still have to become a third country regulated agent (RA3) or third country known consignor (KC3) before they can start cargo services to the UK/European Union. To do so, they must first submit their relevant air cargo and mail operations to an EU aviation security validation wherein a validator will assess whether the entity complies with the relevant security objectives by making an on-site verification of the premises where air cargo or mail to the EU are handled.
Biman spokesman Shakil Meraaj told RTV this week that EASA-accredited inspectors started their audit on Tuesday, February 20, and will run through until February 22. If all goes well, Meraaj says Biman hopes to resume cargo services to the UK as early as March.
