Bangladesh is stepping up efforts to reform its logistics sector to sustain export growth and strengthen its position in global trade. The call came during a high-level discussion, Navigating the Future: The Evolving Landscape of Logistics in Bangladesh, hosted by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, HSBC Bangladesh, and the Nordic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).
Industry experts warned that without urgent reforms, Bangladesh risks losing competitiveness as preferential trade agreements phase out. Over 90% of the country’s trade passes through Chittagong Port, creating bottlenecks that inflate logistics costs. Infrastructure upgrades, multimodal integration, and improved efficiency were identified as critical priorities.
Policy Exchange Bangladesh Chairman M Masrur Reaz noted that even modest changes could deliver major gains: a 1% cut in transport costs could raise garment exports by 7.4%, while reducing dwell time by one day could lift overall exports by 7%. He added that lowering logistics expenses by 25% could boost exports by 20%.
Speakers also stressed sustainability and international cooperation. Ambassador Gulbrandsen offered Norway’s expertise in green and maritime technology, while NCCI President Tanveer Mohammad called for stronger private-public partnerships. HSBC Bangladesh CEO Md Mahbub ur Rahman highlighted logistics reform as essential for competitiveness as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
