S A Shofiee, Sylhet :
Although the first international cargo flight took off from Sylhet Osmani International Airport, it has become more disappointing news than hope for local exporters and manufacturers. Because, no Sylhet products were accommodated on that flight. Although the flight with Dhaka’s ready-made garments left for Spain in Europe, the potential opportunity to export tea, agricultural products, fish or raw materials remains blocked.
There have been inaugurations, water salutes and a flurry of words – all this has happened. But for those who have been dreaming of exporting from Sylhet for years, there is no real provision. Even though there have been demands locally for a long time, not even a packaging house has been set up at the airport.
Airport Director Hafiz Ahmed admitted that only Dhaka’s garment companies are still getting the opportunity to export. Flight operator Voyager is also working with them. However, it is almost impossible to export agricultural products or tea without a packaging house. Although the government says that the matter is under process, no one can guarantee when it will be implemented.
Although Sylhet tea is famous all over the world, there is no minimum infrastructure to utilize it. Despite the huge demand from about one million Sylhet expatriates in the UK, the market there is still dependent on private initiatives. Several expatriates, including businessman Emdadul Haque, told this reporter that although there is interest in importing tea, there is no government or commercial support.
Former president of Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry Khandaker Shipar Ahmed said that there is no opportunity to send Sylhet products on cargo flights yet, we have to emphasize on exporting locally produced products. The demand for a packaging house at the airport has been a long-standing one. If it is established, it will open the door to exporting agricultural products including vegetables.
Acting President of Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mujibur Rahman said, “There is no opportunity to export garment products from Sylhet. There is a good opportunity for Sylhet traders to export raw materials, so quarantine certificates, packaging and product freezing systems should be introduced at the airport, and then Sylhet traders will be able to export products directly from Sylhet through cargo flights,” he added.
