35 injured as massive fire hits Dhaka airport cargo village; flights resume after seven hours

PARBATTANEWS DESK

At least 35 security personnel were injured as a massive fire broke out at the import cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon, officials said.

The injured include 25 members of the Ansar force and 10 police officers. Several were taken to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and Kurmitola General Hospital for treatment.

Officials said the fire started around 2:30pm near Gate 8 of the cargo village, where warehouses storing imported chemicals, garments, electronics and machinery caught fire.

Eighteen firefighting units rushed to the scene. Members of the police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the Army, Air Force and Ansar joined the operation to contain the blaze.

Around one thousand Ansar members were on duty at the airport when the fire broke out. Many took part in the initial firefighting efforts, and 25 of them were injured.

Md Golam Maula Tuhin, Commander of Ansar’s Uttara zone, said his members acted quickly. 

“Our members identified the fire early and informed the authorities. Despite the risks, they showed great courage in the initial firefighting efforts,” he said.

Md Ashiquzzaman, Deputy Director of Public Relations at Bangladesh Ansar and VDP headquarters, said the injured were receiving proper medical care. 

“The situation is being closely monitored, and proper medical assistance has been ensured for the injured members,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner of DMP’s Uttara Division, Mahidul Islam, confirmed that at least 10 police officers were injured while assisting in the firefighting operation.

“They were taken to Kurmitola General Hospital. A senior officer has been sent there to oversee their treatment,” he said at the scene.

He added that more than 5,000 police personnel from different DMP units had been deployed to maintain order and ensure security in the area.

Fire Service officials said the cause of the fire was not immediately known. Efforts to bring the blaze fully under control continued well into the evening.

According to the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, the fire was finally brought under control after more than seven hours of continuous efforts.

Flight operations, which were temporarily suspended, resumed at 9:06pm with the arrival of a flight from Dubai, local television channels reported.

In a press release, the ministry said no casualties had been reported. It credited the prompt and coordinated actions of the Fire Service and the Airport Authority for containing the blaze.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin was present at the airport throughout the day, closely monitoring the situation, according to the state-run news agency BSS.

The ministry said all relevant agencies worked in coordination to extinguish the fire and ensure flight operations could safely resume.

It also confirmed that an official investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the incident. 

“Appropriate measures will be taken to identify the source of the blaze and prevent any recurrence in the future,” the statement said.

The ministry expressed gratitude to passengers and the public for their patience and cooperation during the disruption.

Meanwhile, the Chief Adviser’s Office (CAO) issued a statement saying security agencies were conducting “thorough” investigations into recent fire incidents across the country.

“We wish to assure all citizens that the security services are investigating each incident thoroughly and protecting lives and property with utmost vigilance,” the CAO said.

The statement came hours after the airport fire and followed a series of major blazes in Chattogram and Dhaka’s Mirpur in recent weeks.

The CAO said the government would take “swift” and “resolute” action if any credible evidence of sabotage or arson was found.

“No act of criminality or provocation will be allowed to disrupt public life and the political process,” the statement added.

It also warned against attempts to spread fear and panic. 

“If these fires prove to be acts of sabotage intended to sow panic and division, they will succeed only if we allow fear to overtake our resolve,” it said.

“Bangladesh has faced many challenges before,” the statement said. 

“Together we will face any threats to our new democracy with unity, calm and determination. We have nothing to fear but fear itself,” it concluded.