EWU Hosts Industry Panel Discussion on the Future of Freight Forwarding and Logistics in Bangladesh
Department of Business Administration at East West University (EWU) organized an industry panel discussion titled “Freight Forwarding and Logistics Industry in Bangladesh: The Way Forward,” bringing together senior industry professionals and academics to examine the current landscape, major challenges, and future development priorities of Bangladesh’s logistics sector.
The distinguished industry panel featured Mr. Shahed Latif, General Manager – Procurement, City Group; Mr. Shahriar Malik, Head of Supply Chain, South Asia, Checkpoint Systems; Mr. Iqbal Anwarul Islam, Country Director, Recover; Mr. Maruf Hossain Khan, Managing Director, Star Concord (BD) Ltd.; and Mr. Kazi Mahfuz, CEO, Cargostar Bangladesh. Representing both shippers and logistics service providers, the panelists contributed diverse industry perspectives and practical insights into the sector’s evolving needs.
EWU research team was led by Professor Dr. Md. Ariful Islam, Project Leader, who also chaired the discussion. Dr. Farhana Ferdousi, Chairperson of the Department of Business Administration, along with other faculty members of the research team, participated in the session. Professor Dr. Shams Rahman, Vice Chancellor of East West University, also attended and shared his remarks, emphasizing the importance of the initiative and its relevance to Bangladesh’s logistics sector.
The discussion addressed several critical dimensions of the logistics ecosystem, including customs and regulatory procedures, freight forwarding operations, infrastructure and connectivity, warehousing, technology adoption, workforce capabilities, stakeholder coordination, and shipper expectations. Drawing on their professional experiences, the panelists highlighted existing industry gaps and explored practical priorities for enhancing operational efficiency, service quality, and overall sector competitiveness.
Event was organized as part of an ongoing EWU research initiative focused on assessing the current state of Bangladesh’s freight forwarding and logistics industry and identifying priority areas for its future development. The insights gathered from the discussion will contribute to the research findings and help inform recommendations for strengthening the sector.
The session also reinforced EWU’s commitment to fostering meaningful academia–industry collaboration by creating a platform for knowledge exchange and constructive dialogue on the future of Bangladesh’s logistics industry.
