DHAKA: A massive blaze broke out at the cargo section of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Saturday, forcing authorities to suspend all flight and landing operations.
According to reports from Anadolu Agency citing local media, the fire started in the area where imported goods were stored. Thick black smoke quickly spread across the airport, prompting emergency evacuations and a major firefighting response.
The Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence confirmed that 36 fire engine units were deployed to the scene, with five more units en route to assist. The Bangladesh Army, Air Force, Navy, and two Border Guard Force platoons were also called in to help contain the flames.
Local television networks reported that several people, including firefighters, were injured while battling the blaze. The exact number of injuries has yet to be confirmed by authorities.
Security personnel on site told Channel24 that a large quantity of garments and other imported materials were stored in the cargo area, which may have fueled the rapid spread of the fire. Witnesses also reported explosions from chemical containers, believed to have worsened the situation.
Emergency teams worked throughout the afternoon to prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the airport. Flight operations were temporarily halted as a precautionary measure, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities have yet to determine whether it was due to electrical faults, chemical mishandling, or negligence.
This tragic incident comes just days after two major factory fires in Bangladesh — one at a garment plant in Mirpur, Dhaka, that claimed at least 16 lives, and another at a factory in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone.
The recent string of fires has raised serious concerns about industrial and airport safety standards in the country, sparking calls for urgent reforms and stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations.
