The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has decided to establish a dedicated Logistics Unit to streamline the sector’s development and coordinate the implementation of the National Logistics Policy 2025. The decision was made during the 2nd meeting of the National Logistics Development and Coordination Committee (NLDCC), held at the Bangladesh Secretariat and chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, A. B. M. Abdus Sattar.
In his opening remarks, the Principal Secretary emphasised the government’s commitment to time-bound implementation of national policies. Addressing the overlap of activities across ministries, he directed that a single ministry lead the coordination of specific programs to avoid duplication. He noted that while political instability in 2024–25 had slowed progress, the current administration is focused on rapid execution.
BUILD played a central role in the discussion, advocating for a robust institutional framework to attract foreign investment.
Abul Kasem Khan, Chairperson of BUILD, proposed establishing a National Logistics Authority or a National Logistics Platform. He argued that without such a structural change, attracting major foreign direct investment (FDI) would remain a challenge. He also suggested considering a dedicated Logistics Ministry to manage the 17-18 ministries and divisions currently involved in the sector.
Ferdaus Ara Begum, CEO of BUILD, highlighted that the sector should be viewed through two lenses: Trade Facilitation and Infrastructure Development. She noted that separating these activities would naturally prevent duplication of work. BUILD CEO also pointed out Bangladesh’s current standing in global logistics rankings, stressing that there is significant room for improvement through coordinated reforms.
The World Bank representative shared that they have been working on logistics in Bangladesh since 2022, which contributed to the 2024 draft policy. Their current project proposal with the Road and Highways Division is designed to avoid overlap with ADB activities. They emphasised a major “skills gap,” noting that current curricula cover only about half of the 106 skilled roles required by the industry, and suggested collaborating with the NSDA to address it.
Representative from ADB noted that the logistics sector is too vast for any single partner to manage alone, making broad coordination essential. It was highlighted that the PMO is already utilising an ADB technical assistance project to help implement the national policy and manage the new logistics unit. To ensure maximum efficiency, the Committee decided that the Road Transport and Highways Secretary will lead a joint session with the World Bank and ADB to align their project components and prevent duplication of effort.
Key Decisions of the NLDCC Meeting
The meeting concluded with several high-level decisions aimed at formalising the logistics governance structure:
- Immediate Unit Formation: A dedicated Logistics Unit/Cell will be established in the PMO within seven days to monitor policy reforms and follow up with relevant institutions.
- Concept Paper on National Authority: Following the Principal Secretary’s principled agreement with BUILD’s suggestion, BUILD and the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA) were tasked with submitting a formal concept paper justifying the establishment of a National Logistics Authority.
- Coordination Committee: A committee led by the Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division will be formed to resolve overlaps between technical assistance projects funded by the World Bank and ADB.
- English Translation of Policy: A draft English translation of the National Logistics Policy 2025 will be presented at the next meeting.
- Committee Expansion: The Economic Relations Division (ERD) and the Planning Commission will be co-opted as members of the NLDCC.
The next meeting of the NLDCC is scheduled for May 2026 to review the progress of these decisions.