A catastrophic fire ripped through the imported goods section of the cargo village at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday afternoon, causing extensive damage worth millions and forcing the suspension of flight operations at the country's busiest airport.
The blaze, which broke out around 2:30 pm, engulfed multiple adjoining warehouses storing fabrics, chemicals, machinery, and garment accessories.
By 7pm, 37 firefighting units from 13 fire stations were still battling the inferno, the smoke from which became visible from miles away. The Fire Service is being aided by Army, Navy, Police, Ansar and BGB personnel.
Speaking at the scene, Sultan Ahmed, Director of Tamim Express Ltd., said his company had just (Saturday) unloaded 2.5 tons of imported garment items—including buttons, zippers, fabrics, and labels—all of which were completely damaged. “Nothing is left. The losses are beyond calculation,” he lamented.
Md. Rokon Mia, CNF agent of a Company, said the fire would cause a “massive economic setback” as daily shipments worth crores of taka pass through the cargo village. “The Sky Lounge area stored chemicals, fabrics, and machinery. We suspect the fire originated from the chemical section,” he added.
Perhaps offering a clue into its origins, eyewitness Sohel Mia, an import section worker, told UNB the fire originated at the warehouse for "dangerous goods".
“The fire spread too fast to control—it’s devastating,” he added.
Thick plumes of black smoke blanketed the area, visible even from the main road near the airport’s third terminal, and miles away across the city and beyond, as social media users posted images from their location. The army created emergency lanes on the main Airport road for fire trucks, while all airport gates and adjacent roads were closed to ensure safety.
Airport Executive Director’s spokesperson Md. Masudul Hasan Masud confirmed that flight operations were suspended temporarily due to the intensity of the blaze and heavy smoke near the runway zone.
Fire officials reported that the most affected areas were around B-Gate, home to fabric, courier, and chemical warehouses, where the heat and explosions made firefighting extremely difficult. Several people were injured, though the number of casualties and total financial losses were yet to be confirmed as of filing this report at around 7:30 pm.