The recent fire at the Cargo Village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport cannot be blamed on a single party—everyone involved must take responsibility, said Mohammad Hatem, President of the Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB).
Speaking at a press conference organized by the EAB on Monday (October 20) at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka, Hatem said, “This incident is a result of collective negligence. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Customs House, and Biman Bangladesh Airlines all share responsibility. CAAB owns the Cargo Village, Customs oversees the imported goods, and Biman acts as the handling agent.”
He emphasized that the fire clearly exposes serious flaws in the security system of the Cargo Village, labeling it as highly vulnerable. He also warned that this poses a broader threat to the overall security of Shahjalal International Airport.
Key Demands from EAB:
- Immediate settlement of insurance claims for goods damaged in the fire.
- Government compensation from a special fund for uninsured goods.
- Modernization and expansion of the Cargo Village to prevent future incidents.
- A dedicated, temperature-controlled warehouse for the pharmaceutical sector.
- Safe and secure storage facilities for chemicals at a safe distance.
- Full automation and adoption of advanced technology in warehouse management.
What Happened?
On Saturday (October 18), around 2:15 PM, smoke was spotted rising from the import-export Cargo Village area of the airport. The fire quickly escalated, with flames visible from afar even during daylight. In response, airport authorities temporarily suspended flight operations. Departures were halted, and incoming flights were diverted to Chattogram and Sylhet airports, causing significant passenger disruption.
A total of 37 units from 13 fire stations, along with firefighting teams from the Air Force, CAAB staff, and support from the Army, BGB, Police, RAB, and Ansar, joined forces to contain the fire. Thanks to their joint efforts, the blaze was brought under control by 9:18 PM, and flight operations resumed shortly afterward.
Hatem concluded by saying, “This type of incident severely impacts the export sector. Immediate and long-term steps are essential to ensure safety and restore confidence among exporters.”
