Firefighting efforts at the import cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport were significantly hampered by strong winds, said Brigadier General Muhammad Zahed Kamal, Director General of the Fire Service and Civil Defence.
“The firefighting efforts are still ongoing. It has been difficult to fully control the fire due to strong wind. The blaze couldn’t be completely extinguished as there were various items scattered in open spaces and small rooms inside,” the Fire DG told reporters during a media briefing in front of Gate No. 8 of the airport around 10 p.m. on Saturday.
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He also confirmed that two firefighters sustained injuries while working to douse the flames.
Regarding the cause of the fire, the DG said, “It is not possible to say at this time what exactly caused the fire or what specific items have been burned. Our primary focus remains on completely extinguishing the blaze.”
The fire, which broke out around 2:15 p.m., was brought under control after more than seven hours of intense efforts.
Fire at Shahjalal Airport's cargo village brought under control after 7 hours
A total of 37 firefighting units, assisted by personnel from the Army, Navy, Police, Ansar, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), managed to bring the blaze under control by 9:18 p.m.
Following the incident, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has formed a seven-member committee led by its Chief of Flight Safety to investigate the incident.