Two new EDS machines finally operational at HSIA

Dhaka: Two new Explosive Detection Scanners (EDSs) became operational from December 7 at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital. The new development will raise the cargo handling capacity of the airport by 600 tons per day while reducing waiting period.

With the operations of the new scanning machines, freight forwarders said, the pressure on Dhaka Airport has reduced – although between 400 and 500 tons of cargo are being carried each day.

However, freight forwarders added that a lack of air freight capacity remains along with an absence of freighters as well as bellies.

“Now everything is functioning smoothly on the air cargo front,” said Nasir Ahmed Khan, Director of Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA), “We are not facing any scanner-related problems.”

Another local forwarder said, “The situation is light now, and volumes are dropping significantly. Next week volumes will fall further. But airlines are not dropping the rates. Many airlines have increased their frequencies due to the increase in passengers, but are getting less payload for cargo.”

Forwarders said the rate remains at some USD 6 per kg to Europe and USD 14 per kg to the US, the main export destinations for Bangladeshi goods.

The two new EDS machines were funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. An EU team visited Bangladesh between October 14 and 21 to validate the scanners, which were implemented after approval.

HSIA has two other EDSs, one of which has been out of order for a long time, but is expected to be repaired in January, while the other needs frequent repairs and will shortly be sent for a technical check-up.

Scanning cargo through explosive detection scanners is a pre-requisite for goods being shipped to the EU.

With few or no working scanners, airport uthorities have been using explosive detection dogs instead, which is a slower process.

Earlier, trucks have had to wait weeks in some cases to drop off cargo, while many shipments were not scanned before the aircraft departed, resulting in aircraft leaving without a full payload.

However, the scenario at the airport is much better now as the issues of the cargo village have been mostly solved, said HSIA authorities.