Bangladesh: Fire breaks out at Dhaka Airport’s cargo section, all flight operations suspended

A major fire broke out in the cargo area of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, on Saturday, forcing authorities to suspend all flights.

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

He said that firefighting units from the airport, Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Air Force, and other relevant agencies responded swiftly to bring the flames under control.

According to local media reports, 28 firefighting units rushed to the spot to douse the flames.

The fire originated in the cargo section near Gate No. 8 of the airport around 2:30 pm, sources at the fire service told The Daily Star.

“All our aircraft are confirmed safe. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops,” a spokesperson for HSIA told the newspaper.

After the major fire was noticed, all flights to and from the airport have been temporarily suspended.

At least five flights of different airlines scheduled to land at the airport have been diverted to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, sources at Dhaka airport told The Daily Star.

The airfield at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka will remain closed until 6:00 pm today, Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, Public Relations Officer at Shah Amanat International Airport, Chattogram, told the newspaper.