A fire broke out in the cargo section of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon.
Biman’s General Manager of Public Relations Boshra Islam has confirmed that all arriving flights have been diverted to Chattogram. There are also concerns that all imported goods stored in the cargo section will be destroyed.
The fire was first reported around 2:15pm. Initial firefighting efforts were launched by airport fire services, followed by reinforcements from the Fire Service and Civil Defence.
Fire Service Media Cell officer Talha Bin Jasim confirmed that the initial report of the fire came from Gate 8 of the airport’s cargo section, where stored goods had reportedly caught fire.
In response, 37 units from the Fire Service and Civil Defence are currently working to bring the situation under control. Morever, two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to assist in rescue operations.
In addition to the Fire Service, the airport’s own fire unit, teams from the Bangladesh Air Force, and other relevant agencies responded swiftly and launched a coordinated firefighting operation.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Bangladesh Navy and Army has joined efforts to control the blaze, which erupted in the airport’s Cargo Village, an area designated for handling all types of goods transported by air.
The incident has led to a temporary suspension of all flight operations at the airport.
The Cargo Village at Shahjalal Airport is a specialised facility separated from the main passenger terminal.
It serves as the central hub for receiving, storing, processing, and distributing air freight, including import and export goods.
Officials from the Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that all emergency protocols were activated immediately after the fire was detected.
“All relevant agencies are working in coordination to bring the situation under control,” a spokesperson said.
While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, authorities said a full damage assessment will be conducted once the blaze is extinguished. No casualties have been reported so far.
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with airport personnel.
A full report on the incident will be released once fire suppression efforts are complete and safety is ensured.
