TAD Logistic Limited, an international freight forwarder based in Dhaka, recently launched direct cargo flights from Bangladesh to South Korea for the first time to boost bilateral trade.

The cargo flight of Air Incheon of South Korea departed from the capital's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for South Korea on Saturday. The authorities have decided to operate two flights each week initially.

Md Ashikur Rahman Tuhin, managing director of TAD Group, said the cargo flights will help Bangladesh grow its export.

"We delivered our first direct cargo flight to South Korea within four hours," he added.

The maiden flight arrived at 7:15am on Saturday carrying pharmaceutical raw materials from South Korea before leaving Bangladesh with around 14 tonnes of products, including jackets and other garment items, at 8:15am the same day.

Major exports from Bangladesh to South Korea include leather and leather goods, apparel, fish and human hair.

"We hope we will soon be able to export a good amount of perishable goods from the country as the travel time is shorter on direct flights," Tuhin said.

"We are already getting a good response from clients and so, we are planning to expand the number of flights to five days a week based on market demand."

Bangladesh's readymade garment exports to South Korea could hit the $1-billion mark in the current fiscal year thanks to the availability of direct flights and diversification of the export baskets, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the trade body of the sector.