A pivotal consultation on the draft National Logistics Policy 2025 (NLP 2025) was convened by the Chief Adviser’s Office on 29 September 2025, bringing together key leaders from the private sector, development partners and government institutions. The session, chaired by Md Saifullah Panna, Secretary of the Chief Adviser’s Office, aimed to incorporate critical stakeholder feedback into the finalisation of the policy framework. BUILD played a prominent role in the dialogue, offering strategic recommendations to ensure the policy is both actionable and implementation-ready.
The consultation began with a presentation on the draft policy, which sets out an ambitious vision to transform Bangladesh into a regional trade and logistics hub by 2050. The presentation was followed by extensive discussions among private sector representatives and trade associations, who highlighted persistent challenges, including high port charges, lengthy clearance times, and fragmented digital processes. A strong consensus emerged on the necessity of moving beyond partial digital initiatives to achieve 100 per cent paperless and fully digitalised logistics systems, thereby significantly reducing operational time and costs.
Representing the coordinated voice of the private sector, Abul Kasem Khan, Chairperson of BUILD, delivered substantive recommendations to strengthen the policy’s implementation framework. He emphasised that the success of NLP 2025 will depend on a time-bound action plan and a comprehensive master plan to align the multiple agencies working within the logistics ecosystem. Khan further proposed that the policy should include a clear directive for establishing a dedicated and empowered logistics authority or ministry to ensure coherent, accountable governance across the sector.
Khan also recommended expanding the policy’s scope to incorporate critical infrastructure elements such as inland container terminals (ICTs), global distribution centres and logistics parks within special economic zones (SEZs). Additionally, he called for the inclusion of central chambers and associations, including Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), DCCI, and MCCI, within the National Logistics Development and Coordination Committee (NLDCC) to ensure comprehensive stakeholder representation.
Echoing these priorities, Ferdaus Ara Begum, CEO of BUILD, emphasised the importance of adopting a phased implementation strategy—with short-, medium- and long-term milestones—to steer the policy’s execution through to 2050 effectively. She reiterated the call for an integrated institutional structure, emphasising that an empowered logistics authority is crucial to implementing the complex reforms outlined in the policy.