A massive fire swept through the cargo complex at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday(October 18), causing what industry leaders are calling "devastating" losses for Bangladesh's vital garment sector just as its peak export season gets underway.

The blaze, which started Saturday afternoon, tore through the import section of the cargo village, incinerating vast quantities of raw materials, apparel, and crucial product samples. By Sunday, smoke was still rising from the gutted facility as officials began to assess the full scale of the damage.

"The entire import section has been reduced to ashes," said Faisal Samad, a director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), estimating the financial toll could be as high as $1 billion.

The timing of the fire is particularly damaging. The airport's cargo hub, which normally handles over 600 metric tons of goods daily, sees that volume double during the October to December peak season. The destroyed goods included urgent air shipments destined for international retailers.

Inamul Haq Khan, senior vice-president of the BGMEA, highlighted the long-term threat posed by the loss of product samples. "These samples are essential for securing new buyers and expanding orders," he explained. "Losing them means our members may miss out on future opportunities." The country's garment industry, worth $47 billion annually, is the second-largest in the world after China's.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. This incident is the third major fire to strike industrial sites in Bangladesh in the past week. A fire at a Dhaka garment factory and chemical warehouse killed at least 16 people on Tuesday, and another destroyed a seven-storey factory in Chittagong on Thursday.

The government has stated that security services are investigating all recent fires "thoroughly" and has urged calm. In a statement, it warned that "any credible evidence of sabotage or arson will be met with a swift and resolute response."

For now, the fire is expected to cause significant shipment delays, creating major challenges for exporters trying to meet tight international delivery deadlines.

BOB Post