A devastating fire at the Cargo Village of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has been raging for hours since Saturday afternoon. Thirty-seven fire units, supported by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and BGB, are battling the blaze. Flights have been suspended and several diverted. At least seven people were injured, and extensive damage has been reported.
A massive fire broke out at the Cargo Village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Saturday (October 18) afternoon, which firefighters have been struggling to control even after several hours. The blaze reportedly started around 2:30 PM, and by evening, thick smoke and flames were still visible from the site.
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, 37 firefighting units are working to douse the flames. Teams from the Civil Aviation Authority, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have also joined the operation.
The Cargo Village stored imported goods from various countries. Following the fire, flight operations at Shahjalal Airport were temporarily suspended as a safety measure.
Authorities confirmed that eight incoming flights were diverted to Chattogram’s Shah Amanat International Airport, while one flight landed at Sylhet’s Osmani International Airport.
Witnesses reported that the fire originated near Gate No. 8 of the Cargo Village area, where smoke was first seen before it rapidly spread across the storage facilities. Soon after, large flames engulfed the warehouses, and thick plumes of black smoke covered the surrounding airspace.
A large number of onlookers gathered near the airport, prompting the deployment of additional security forces including the Army, RAB, Police, and Ansar to prevent any untoward incidents.
At least seven people, including firefighters, have been injured in the incident. The extent of the damage remains unclear, but early reports suggest that clothing materials and chemicals stored inside the warehouses have been completely destroyed.