Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has called for the development of an integrated and efficient logistics ecosystem, warning that weak infrastructure, poor institutional coordination and high business costs are undermining Bangladesh’s export competitiveness.
The call came at a roundtable discussion titled “Integrated Port and Logistics Development for a Trade-Driven Bangladesh” held in Dhaka.
DCCI Senior Vice President Razeev H Chowdhury said lengthy cargo clearance procedures, inefficient road and rail transportation systems and the lack of modern cold-chain logistics continue to increase supply chain costs and reduce efficiency.
He stressed the importance of introducing paperless and automated systems at ports, expanding public-private partnership (PPP)-based infrastructure projects and boosting investment in cold-chain logistics facilities.
Presenting the keynote paper, M Masrur Reaz, chairman and chief executive officer of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, said Bangladesh’s manufacturing sector now contributes nearly 25% to the country’s GDP, surpassing many neighboring economies.
However, he noted that greater local and foreign investment is essential to further expand the manufacturing base and diversify exports.
Mr. Reaz identified weak logistics infrastructure and high business costs as major barriers to creating a trade-friendly environment. According to him, reducing logistics costs by 25% could increase exports by 20%, while a 1% reduction in transportation costs could boost exports by 7.4%.
He also emphasized the need for effective implementation of the national logistics policy, faster container clearance at Chattogram Port and greater involvement of both international-standard foreign operators and domestic private companies in port management.
Meanwhile, Md Habibur Rahman, former member (admin and planning) of the Chittagong Port Authority, said railway connectivity remains the only sustainable long-term solution for cargo transportation, as there is limited scope for further expansion of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.
Md. Shamsul Hoque, professor of civil engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), criticized the country’s fragmented infrastructure planning process and stressed the need for integrated multimodal transport systems and institutional reforms in the logistics sector.
