Logistics services in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh logistics overview: modes, trade and gateways

Logistics services in Bangladesh cover sea, air and inland transport for both imports and exports. Containers move mainly through the seaports of Chittagong and Mongla, which together handle about 3.4 million TEU a year. Liner shipping connectivity is moderate, with an LSCI score of 14.67.

Air freight uses a network of 8 airports with scheduled service, led by Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and international airports in Sylhet and Chittagong. Rail freight is available over about 2,460 km of track and carried about 1.1 billion tonne-km, complementing coastal access along roughly 580 km of shoreline. Goods cross land borders with India and Burma by road before connecting to ports or domestic markets.

Bangladesh handles about 3.4 million TEU a year and has 2 main seaports, Chittagong and Mongla. When choosing freight forwarders in Bangladesh, check that they are experienced with these ports, the main airports, and with garments, footwear, fabric, textiles, trunks and cases on the export side. Strong relationships on lanes to the USA, Germany, the UK, Spain and Poland for exports, and to China, India, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia for imports, are important.

The logistics performance index score is 2.6, with weaker areas in customs and infrastructure at 2.3 and tracking at 2.4. Ask how the forwarder mitigates these, for example through document preparation, shipment visibility tools, and route planning. Bangladesh is in South Asia and a SAARC member, so regional experience with India and other peer countries can help. Presence in Dhaka and at Chittagong or Mongla, and coordination with shipping lines such as ANL, CMA CGM, Maersk, ONE or Hapag-Lloyd, supports ocean moves and hinterland connections.

Container traffic in Bangladesh reaches about 3.4 million TEU, placing the country 40th of 168 worldwide and 3rd of 4 in South Asia. The main seaport is Chittagong (BDCGP), a medium-sized facility with cargo pier depth of 12.2 m and rail access. Mongla (BDMGL) is smaller, with 6.5 m depth and no rail, but provides secondary coverage.

Liner shipping connectivity is moderate, with an LSCI of 14.67 and a world rank of 82nd of 169, 3rd of 4 in South Asia. Major shipping lines with offices in Bangladesh include ANL, CMA CGM, CNC, Evergreen, HMM, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, ONE, PIL, Yang Ming, COSCO and Emirates Shipping Line, typically operating through Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna and Mongla. This supports both FCL and LCL shipping from and to Bangladesh on a range of global routes.

Bangladesh handled about 99 million tonne-km of air cargo in 2023. Scheduled international traffic uses 8 airports, with Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) as the main gateway, alongside Osmany, Shah Amanat, Barisal, and Cox's Bazar. Air makes particular sense for higher value or time-sensitive exports such as garments and textiles, especially on lanes to the USA, Germany, the UK, Spain, and Poland.

The country’s logistics performance index score is 2.6, with customs and infrastructure components at 2.3. Transit time scores are relatively stronger at 3.0, which supports the use of air freight where predictable timing is more important than cost. Freight forwarders in Bangladesh often combine air with seaport routings via Chittagong or Mongla, depending on urgency and buyer requirements.

Bangladesh has about 2,460 km of railway, with rail freight volume of about 1.1 billion tonne-km and a world rank of 67th of 113, 2nd of 3 in South Asia. Rail links to Chittagong support intermodal connections from inland production areas to the port, while Mongla currently lacks rail access.

By road, Bangladesh shares borders with India over 4,142 km and Burma over 271 km, giving options for cross-border trucking and regional distribution. Rail and road freight in Bangladesh therefore complement sea and air routes, moving garments, textiles and imported fuels between factories, border crossings and ports.

Bangladesh is a member of the World Trade Organization and has been a member of the World Customs Organization since 1978. It also belongs to SAARC. The average applied tariff is 10.56, shaping cost calculations for imports alongside core paperwork such as the commercial invoice, packing list and transport document.

The country’s LPI customs score is 2.3, below the world median of 2.6, while overall LPI stands at 2.6 against a median of 2.7. Import lead time averages 5 days and export lead time 4 days. When handling customs clearance in Bangladesh, shippers often rely on local experts to manage these timelines and procedures efficiently.