Dhaka,   Sunday 19 October 2025

37 firefighting units battle fire at Dhaka airport cargo zone

Published: 19:23, 18 October 2025

37 firefighting units battle fire at Dhaka airport cargo zone

At least 37 firefighting units are battling a fire that broke out in the cargo area of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon, prompting the suspension of all flight operations and triggering a large-scale emergency response.

The fire was first reported around 2:15pm, according to Kawser Mahmud, spokesperson for both Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).

 

He said that firefighting units from the airport, the Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Air Force, and other relevant agencies responded swiftly and launched a coordinated effort to contain the fire.

Mahmud urged the public to remain calm and vigilant, assuring that a detailed report would be shared once the situation is fully under control.

Talha bin Jasim, an officer from the Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters, told reporters that they received news of the fire around 2:30pm. “Thirty-seven fire units are currently working at the scene,” he said.

He added that the organization’s Director General, Brigadier General Muhammad Jahed Kamal, is monitoring the situation.

Airport Executive Director SM Ragib Samad said: “We are working together with all relevant forces, including the Air Force fire unit. Further details will be shared later.”

Currently, a total of 37 units from 13 fire stations are working to bring the fire under control, with additional support from the Bangladesh Navy, while two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to assist with rescue efforts.

As a precautionary measure, authorities have suspended all flight operations at the airport.

Aircraft stationed in hangars are being relocated to prevent potential damage, as the fire continues to burn in the cargo village area.

The disruption has forced several inbound and outbound flights to divert or delay.

Airport sources confirmed that Batik Air flight OD-163 from Dhaka to Kuala Lumpur and Indigo flight 6E-1116 from Dhaka to Mumbai are currently waiting on the taxiway.

Meanwhile, the US-Bangla Airlines flight from Bangkok and Air Arabia’s flight from Sharjah have landed in Chittagong.

Indigo’s flight from Delhi has been diverted to Kolkata, while Cathay Pacific’s flight from Hong Kong is circling in the air, unable to land.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Saidpur and a US-Bangla Airlines flight from Chittagong have both diverted back to Chittagong instead of landing in Dhaka.

Emergency teams remain on-site as efforts continue to bring the situation under full control.

Authorities are closely monitoring the fire and working to restore normal operations as soon as conditions permit.

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