Bangladesh welcomes first private retailer

Emily Pacey

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Sarban Duty Free has opened the first privately-run duty-free stores at Bangladesh's Dhaka airport

Bangladesh's Dhaka International airport has appointed its first privately-owned duty-free retailer. Sarban Duty Free unveiled three 400 sq ft (37sq m) departure shops offering liquor, tobacco, cosmetics and fragrances at the airport earlier this year after securing a five-year renewable contract.
 
British American Tobacco, Bvlgari, Coty Prestige and Kenzo are among the retailer's biggest suppliers at the airport, where the stores were previously operated by state-run company Bangladesh Parjatan Corp.
 
Sarban Duty Free managing partner Humayan Kabir told RavenFox.com, "We hope to provide an improved retail environment and customer service at Dhaka that operates at international standards. We intend to expand our product categories at Dhaka airport and are also considering bidding for contracts at Sylhet and Chittagong airports."
 
Dhaka airport welcomed 3.6m international passengers last year, and has a capacity of 10m.