Sylhet, April 25, 2025 – A new chapter in Bangladesh’s export sector begins this Sunday as Sylhet’s Osmani International Airport launches its first cargo flight to Spain, marking a significant milestone in the country’s aviation and trade landscape. The cargo terminal, equipped with modern facilities, is poised to ease the pressure on Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport and unlock economic potential for the northeastern region. However, the absence of a modern packing house currently limits the export of Sylhet’s perishable goods, such as vegetables.
The Osmani International Airport’s cargo terminal, with an initial capacity of 100 tons, is ready to serve European and UK markets. Fitted with advanced equipment, including an Explosive Detection System (EDS), the terminal complies with the stringent RA-3 protocol, making it only the second facility in Bangladesh after Dhaka to meet such standards. The launch comes at a critical time, as India’s transshipment facilities have been discontinued, positioning Sylhet as a vital alternative export hub.
While the terminal opens new avenues for Bangladesh’s export industry, local products from Sylhet, particularly perishable vegetables, cannot yet be exported due to the lack of a modern packing house. Currently, the country’s only government-operated packing house is located in Shyampur, Dhaka. This gap in infrastructure highlights the need for further development to fully harness Sylhet’s agricultural potential.
The demand for Bangladeshi products in the UK and Europe has been strong for years, but strict quality control and security protocols have limited exports to Dhaka’s Shahjalal Airport, which is now overburdened. Sylhet’s new cargo terminal offers a solution to this bottleneck. Although the terminal received approval for cargo operations in 2022, exporters initially focused on Dhaka due to lower demand. However, with rising pressure on Dhaka’s facilities, Sylhet is now seeing increased cargo placements, according to Airport Director Mohammad Hafiz Ahmed.
Ahmed emphasized the terminal’s potential, stating, “As cargo flight frequency increases and infrastructure improves, Sylhet’s local products can be exported directly. With a packing house, vegetables from Sylhet could reach London swiftly, strengthening ties with the diaspora.” He added that delivering fresh, homegrown produce to Bangladeshi communities abroad would deepen cultural connections for future generations.
The absence of a packing house remains a challenge for exporting Sylhet’s primary agricultural products, such as rapidly perishable vegetables, which require compliance with RA-3 protocols and specialized packaging. Airport authorities are optimistic that establishing a packing house in Sylhet would enable direct exports to global markets, boosting the local economy and reinforcing Bangladesh’s presence in international trade.
The inaugural cargo flight on Sunday will be attended by key dignitaries, including Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin, Secretary Nasreen Jahan, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Manzur Kabir Bhuiyan, and Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqul Fazl Ansari.
As Sylhet’s cargo terminal opens new economic opportunities for the northeastern region, addressing infrastructural gaps, such as the establishment of a packing house, will be crucial to fully realizing its potential. The launch of cargo operations at Osmani International Airport signals a promising future for Bangladesh’s export industry and its global trade ambitions.
AI/MR
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