The commerce minister on Thursday called for customs and related services at the airport to remain operational on weekends until a permanent fix is found for a cargo backlog.

Khandakar Abdul Muktadir told a meeting at his ministry that accumulated cargo was not declining because operations were limited on Fridays and Saturdays. “Until permanent infrastructure is built, it’s essential to keep customs and allied services open on holidays,” he said, according to a ministry press release.

The meeting was convened to address non-tariff barrier issues raised by the European Union to encourage trade and investment between Bangladesh and the bloc. Cargo handling congestion at the airport was among the problems discussed.

Muktadir said the airport was a transit point, not a storage or warehousing facility, and that cargo lingering for extended periods was creating a crisis. He argued for a separate, modern cargo village outside the airport with secure storage and handling systems tailored to hazardous, non-hazardous, fast-moving and slow-moving goods. “We have to plan for the next 10 years’ demand,” he said.

Officials at the meeting noted that roughly the same volume of cargo arriving each day was being cleared, but the previously accumulated stock was proving difficult to reduce. Limited activity on weekly holidays was cited as one reason.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam warned that the congestion was not only hurting businesses but also damaging the country’s image abroad. “There’s a risk of an accident at any time. The cargo jam must be reduced quickly to restore normal airport operations,” she said, urging agencies to show visible progress within seven days.

Muktadir said all parties were approaching the problem positively and that both short-term and long-term solutions were being pursued. Another meeting is scheduled next week to review data and determine next steps.

“The first impression a foreign buyer or investor gets of Bangladesh is the experience of an aircraft arriving and goods being cleared at the airport. That experience can’t be negative,” Muktadir said. “This problem must be solved swiftly.”