Smoke continued to smolder from the cargo village at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport today, a full day after a massive fire swept through warehouses, causing significant damage and disrupting flight operations for hours. Firefighters remain at the scene, working to completely extinguish the remnants of the blaze that broke out near Gate 8 on Saturday afternoon.

The fire, which began around 2:00 pm on Saturday (October 18), spread rapidly through a section of the cargo village used to store imported goods. The incident prompted a large-scale emergency response, with 37 fire service units, assisted by army personnel, battling the inferno for approximately six hours before it was brought under control around 9:00 pm.

While no fatalities were reported, at least 25 members of the Ansar force sustained injuries while assisting firefighters in their efforts to contain the blaze.

Airport authorities confirmed that flight operations, which were halted for about seven hours, resumed on Saturday night and have since returned to their normal schedule.

In the aftermath, multiple investigations have been launched to determine the cause and assess the extent of the damage. Civil Aviation Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin confirmed an official investigation is underway. When questioned about the possibility of sabotage, he refrained from speculation, appealing to the public for any relevant information.

Separately, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has formed a seven-member committee, which is expected to submit its findings within five working days. The finance ministry has also established a five-member panel to calculate the financial losses incurred.

Fire service officer Talha Bin Jashim confirmed the fire originated in an area holding imported items. Meanwhile, to mitigate the economic impact, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has announced special measures to ensure import and export activities continue uninterrupted at the Dhaka Customs House.

BOB Post