News Flash
DHAKA, Oct 19, 2025 (BSS) - The government will waive all charges for non-
scheduled flights for the next three days, while Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport (HSIA) own fire unit reached the Cargo Village within
30 seconds of Saturday's devastating fire, Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser
Sk Bashir Uddin said.
"Our airport's own firefighting team reached the spot within 30 seconds, as
informed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman," the
adviser told reporters after visiting the fire-ravaged Cargo Village on
Sunday afternoon.
He dismissed allegations that the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) units
were delayed in entering the airport premises but said any such claims would
be taken into consideration during the post-incident review.
"The situation was handled swiftly and in coordination with all agencies," Sk
Bashir said, adding that an investigation would identify any lapses and
ensure lessons for future emergency responses.
The adviser announced a package of immediate government measures, including
the waiver of all airport-related costs and fees for non-scheduled flights
for three days to help ease the backlog created by the temporary suspension
of operations.
"We have also taken responsibility for passengers' meals, accommodation, and
services to reduce inconvenience," he said, adding "Our priority is to
maintain uninterrupted passenger welfare and restore full normalcy at the
earliest."
Bashir said a total of 21 flights were diverted or cancelled following the
fire, which erupted around 2:15 pm on Saturday in the import section of the
Cargo Village.
"Thanks to the combined efforts of 36 units of the Fire Service and Civil
Defence, the blaze was fully extinguished by 8:30 pm," he said.
The adviser confirmed that an inter-ministerial meeting had been convened
this afternoon to assess the situation and determine the next steps,
including damage evaluation, compensation mechanisms, and operational
restoration.
"At present, a comprehensive damage assessment is underway to determine the
extent of losses," he said, "The evaluation covers both the financial value
and the weight of damaged goods, along with a sector-wise analysis of the
affected facilities."
He said the government had pledged to reopen airport operations by 9:00 pm on
Saturday, and "we succeeded in doing so".
Expressing regret over passenger inconvenience, Sk Bashir said, "I sincerely
apologize to all passengers who suffered difficulties because of the
incident. We are managing several issues simultaneously, and while some minor
disruptions may occur, we are working tirelessly to restore full stability."
He also informed that the authorities have set a 36-hour clearance target for
incoming cargo and that the existing insurance framework will be taken into
account while addressing compensation claims.
BGMEA expresses concern over extensive losses
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said
the fire caused severe damage to the country's export-oriented garment
sector, destroying export-ready apparel, valuable raw materials, and vital
product samples used for new business orders.
"This incident has dealt a serious blow to Bangladesh's export trade,
particularly the readymade garment (RMG) industry," BGMEA Senior Vice-
President Inamul Haque Khan told reporters after visiting the site.
He said high-value consignments and urgent shipments transported by air had
been "burned to ashes," describing the loss of product samples as a major
setback for ongoing and future business negotiations.
"These samples are essential for developing new buyers and expanding export
markets. Losing them means losing future opportunities," he said.
BGMEA has already issued letters to its member factories asking for detailed
loss inventories in a prescribed format, while an online data-collection
portal has been launched to speed up the process.
Almost all BGMEA member factories use air freight to meet urgent export
deadlines. Between 200 and 250 factories send goods by air daily, meaning the
impact is "significant", Inamul noted.
"We went inside and saw the devastation . . . it may take 15 days to a month
to bring the operations back to normal," he said.
BGMEA Director Faisal Samad said they met with adviser Bashir at the site and
held an on-spot coordination meeting.
He said BGMEA had also agreed to form a joint working committee with Customs
to ensure fast clearance and prevent congestion.
The BGMEA leadership said it was coordinating closely with the Ministry of
Civil Aviation and Tourism, Customs authorities, airport officials, and other
stakeholders to ensure quick recovery and smooth handling of ongoing
shipments.
A massive fire broke out at HSIA's Cargo Village on Saturday afternoon,
forcing a six-hour suspension of flight operations as multiple agencies,
including the Fire Service, armed forces, and airport authorities, worked in
tandem to bring the flames under control.
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters, the fire
originated around 2:15 pm in the import section of the Cargo Village.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that teams from the
Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Navy, Fire Service and Civil Defence, and
Civil Aviation Authority jointly took part in the operation.
Airport sources said flames spread rapidly through the import area where
various goods, including apparel materials, machinery, and imported
consignments, were stored. Plumes of thick black smoke were seen rising from
the facility, disrupting air traffic and forcing several aircraft to divert.
At the peak of the blaze, more than 36 firefighting units were engaged on
site while additional reinforcements from nearby fire stations were
dispatched as a precaution.
For safety reasons, aircraft parked near the cargo apron were towed to secure
locations.
