Sunday, 19 October, 2025
A massive fire tore through the imported goods section of the Cargo Village at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday afternoon, causing millions of takas in damage and forcing the temporary suspension of flight operations at the country’s busiest airport.
The blaze, which erupted around 2:30pm, engulfed several adjoining warehouses storing fabrics, chemicals, machinery, and garment accessories.
By 7pm, 37 firefighting units from 13 fire stations were still battling the inferno, with smoke visible from miles around. The operation was supported by personnel from the Army, Navy, Police, Ansar, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
Speaking at the scene, Sultan Ahmed, Director of Tamim Express Ltd., said his company had just unloaded 2.5 tons of imported garment items, including buttons, zippers, fabrics, and labels—all of which were completely destroyed.
“Nothing is left. The losses are beyond calculation,” he lamented.
Md. Rokon Mia, CNF agent, warned the fire could 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.
Eyewitness Sohel Mia, an import section worker, said the blaze began at the ‘Dangerous Goods’ warehouse.
“The fire spread too fast to control—it’s devastating,” he said.
Thick plumes of black smoke blanketed the area, visible from the main road near the airport’s Terminal 3 and across the city. Images and videos shared on social media highlighted the scale of the disaster. Emergency lanes were created by the Army for fire trucks, while all airport gates and surrounding roads were closed to ensure safety.
Md. Masudul Hasan Masud, spokesperson for the Airport Executive Director, confirmed that flight operations were temporarily suspended due to the intensity of the fire and heavy smoke near the runway.
Fire officials reported that the most affected areas were around B-Gate, home to fabric, courier, and chemical warehouses, where heat and occasional explosions complicated firefighting efforts. Several people were injured, though the number of casualties and the total financial loss remained unconfirmed as of 7:30pm.
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A massive fire tore through the imported goods section of the Cargo Village at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday afternoon, causing millions of takas in damage and forcing the temporary suspension of flight operations at the country’s busiest airport.
The blaze, which erupted around 2:30pm, engulfed several adjoining warehouses storing fabrics, chemicals, machinery, and garment accessories.
By 7pm, 37 firefighting units from 13 fire stations were still battling the inferno, with smoke visible from miles around. The operation was supported by personnel from the Army, Navy, Police, Ansar, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
Speaking at the scene, Sultan Ahmed, Director of Tamim Express Ltd., said his company had just unloaded 2.5 tons of imported garment items, including buttons, zippers, fabrics, and labels—all of which were completely destroyed.
“Nothing is left. The losses are beyond calculation,” he lamented.
Md. Rokon Mia, CNF agent, warned the fire could 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.
Eyewitness Sohel Mia, an import section worker, said the blaze began at the ‘Dangerous Goods’ warehouse.
“The fire spread too fast to control—it’s devastating,” he said.
Thick plumes of black smoke blanketed the area, visible from the main road near the airport’s Terminal 3 and across the city. Images and videos shared on social media highlighted the scale of the disaster. Emergency lanes were created by the Army for fire trucks, while all airport gates and surrounding roads were closed to ensure safety.
Md. Masudul Hasan Masud, spokesperson for the Airport Executive Director, confirmed that flight operations were temporarily suspended due to the intensity of the fire and heavy smoke near the runway.
Fire officials reported that the most affected areas were around B-Gate, home to fabric, courier, and chemical warehouses, where heat and occasional explosions complicated firefighting efforts. Several people were injured, though the number of casualties and the total financial loss remained unconfirmed as of 7:30pm.
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