Highlights
- The fire broke out at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s cargo village on Saturday afternoon.
- 37 fire service units worked to bring the blaze under control by around 8:45 p.m.
- The fire spread quickly due to highly flammable materials stored in the area.
- Officials fear hundreds of tons of imported goods — and possibly bodies of migrant workers — may have been burned.
- Authorities are still assessing the total damage.
Fire Erupts at Cargo Village Area
A massive fire broke out on Saturday (October 18) at the cargo village and surrounding areas of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, the fire was brought under control around 8:45 p.m., though firefighters faced great difficulty in containing the blaze despite it being an open-area fire.
Possible Loss of Repatriated Bodies
Reports suggest that some repatriated bodies of migrant workers might have been stored in the cargo section at the time of the fire.
It is feared that these remains could have been burned to ashes.
In most cases, the bodies of migrant workers are transported to Bangladesh via cargo flights, which has raised serious concern about whether any such remains were lost in this tragic fire.
What Is Inside the Cargo Village?
Almost every international airport, including Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, handles both passengers and cargo shipments.
The cargo village functions as a central hub for import and export activities, involving customs clearance, inspection, packaging, and storage.
The Shahjalal Cargo Village has two main sections — Import Cargo Zone and Export Cargo Zone.
Imported goods are stored until they clear customs, while export-ready shipments wait for flight space.
“সাধারণ ডিম বিক্রি করে আমরা কীভাবে ১৫ লক্ষ কাস্টমার এনেছি—এই বইয়ে আছে তার বাস্তব কাহিনি!”
Why the Fire Spread So Quickly
A Bangladesh Biman official told,
“যেখান থেকে আগুনের সূত্রপাত হয়েছে, সেখানে সাধারণত দাহ্য পদার্থ থাকে। এর মধ্যে বিভিন্ন ধরনের কেমিক্যাল, গার্মেন্টস পণ্য, প্লাস্টিক সামগ্রীসহ এমন অনেক কিছু থাকে যা আগুনের সংস্পর্শে সহজেই জ্বলে উঠতে পারে।”
Translation: “The area where the fire started usually contains flammable materials such as chemicals, garments, and plastic goods that easily ignite.”
He added that the use of water on such materials likely caused the fire to spread faster.
Another officer said the fire initially started in the import cargo area, where newly arrived goods were stored, and later spread to other parts of the cargo village.
“আপনার ব্যবসা এখন অনলাইনে— Storola-এর সাথে সহজ ও স্মার্টভাবে!”
Concerns from Business and Freight Officials
Nasir Uddin, Director of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association, said:
“আমরা এখন বোঝার চেষ্টা করছি কী পরিমাণ কার্গোর ক্ষয়ক্ষতি হয়েছে… আন্তর্জাতিক বিভিন্ন কুরিয়ার সার্ভিসের পণ্য যেখানে রাখা হয়, সেই স্থানটি সবচেয়ে বেশি ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হয়েছে।”
Translation: “We are trying to assess the extent of the damage. The area storing international courier goods appears to be the most affected.”
He also confirmed that several chemical warehouses in the cargo zone had caught fire.
Massive Economic Impact Feared
Officials estimate that hundreds of tons of imported and export-ready goods may have been destroyed, including garments, perishables, and courier shipments.
Importers and exporters could face major financial losses, and insurance claims might take months to process.
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One importer expressed deep worry:
“আমার পাঁচটি শিপমেন্ট ছিল, যার একটি কার্গো ভিলেজে ছিল… আমার পণ্যগুলো পুড়ে গেলে আমি পুরোপুরি শেষ হয়ে যাব।”
Translation: “I had five shipments, one of which was in the cargo village. If my goods are burned, I will be completely ruined.”
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities of Shahjalal Airport are yet to determine the cause of the fire or the exact extent of the damage.
Fire service teams and airport officials continue their joint investigation to assess losses and identify safety lapses that allowed the fire to spread so rapidly.
