Fire at HSIA Cargo Village Disrupts Flight Operations
A massive fire broke out at the Cargo Village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka this afternoon, forcing a temporary suspension of flight operations as fire service and armed forces personnel worked together to bring the blaze under control. According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters, the fire erupted around 2:15 pm in the import section of the Cargo Village. "Thirty units are currently working at the site while six more are on the way," Tahla Bin Jashim, an officer at the Fire Service media cell said media around 4:00 pm. "The cause of the fire and the extent of damage are yet to be determined. So far, no casualties have been reported," he said.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that units from the Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, and the Civil Aviation Authority joined efforts to extinguish the fire. Airport Executive Director Group Captain SM Ragib Samad said emergency teams were working in coordination to control the situation. "We are handling an emergency situation; please cooperate with us. Our airport fire service teams are working to control the fire at Shahjalal International Airport. Fire units from the Air Force and Civil Defence are also engaged. You will receive accurate information in due time," he said in an audio message circulated to the media. Airport authorities confirmed that flight operations were suspended temporarily for safety reasons, though the blaze remained confined to the Cargo Village area and did not spread to the passenger terminal.
Several Dhaka-bound international flights were diverted, with aircraft landing in Chattogram and Kolkata, while a number of departing flights remained on the taxiway awaiting clearance. Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, and other carriers also diverted or delayed flights as a precaution. According to airport sources, flights bound for Dhaka from various destinations were rerouted including US-Bangla Airlines' flight from Bangkok, which landed in Chattogram, and IndiGo's flight from Delhi, which landed in Kolkata. An Air Arabia flight from Sharjah also landed in Chattogram, while a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong circled in the air awaiting clearance to land.
Meanwhile, several departing international flights, including Batik Air's Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur flight (OD-163) and IndiGo's Dhaka-Mumbai flight (6E-1116), were stuck on the taxiway pending clearance. Domestic operations were also affected, with a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Saidpur to Dhaka redirected to Chattogram. Another US-Bangla Airlines flight from Chattogram to Dhaka took off but had to return to Chattogram due to the temporary suspension. Officials said that as flames intensified, aircraft parked in nearby hangars were towed to safer locations.
A Fire Service officer said the source of the blaze is under investigation, and the area has been cordoned off. The airport authorities assured that passenger safety remains the highest priority and that normal operations will resume once the fire is fully contained and safety assessments are complete.
