Dhaka, June 7 -- Aviation Minister Afroza Khanam Rita has directed Shahjalal International Airport authorities to maintain round-the-clock cargo operations in a bid to clear mounting backlogs, as businesses continue to grapple with delays at the country's main air freight gateway.

The directive came at a meeting with representatives of different business organisations at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) headquarters on Sunday.

The discussion was convened in the aftermath of Friday night's fire at the airport's cargo operations zone -- the second such incident in seven-and-a-half months.

At the meeting, business leaders highlighted a range of operational shortcomings and persistent inefficiencies in cargo handling.

An ...