A massive fire at the import section of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s cargo village has delivered a severe blow to Bangladesh’s export-oriented industries, particularly the garment sector, as the peak Christmas shipment season approaches.

Severe Damage and Threat to Exports

The blaze destroyed nearly all imported samples and production accessories stored at the facility — items crucial for ongoing production and upcoming orders. Industry experts estimate total losses could exceed $1 billion, with ripple effects extending across both export and domestic markets.

The import cargo zone contained everything from small items like lace and garment accessories to spare parts and product samples sent by international buyers. Given the industry’s heavy reliance on air freight to meet strict deadlines, the loss has significantly worsened existing logistical challenges.

Nurul Amin, former vice-president of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA), warned that the pressure on air shipments will increase substantially this year due to the backlog created by the fire. The ongoing strike at Chattogram port has already diverted a large volume of cargo to Dhaka airport, adding further strain.

Emergency Response and Temporary Measures

To manage the crisis, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has arranged for temporary warehouse space at the airport’s Third Terminal to handle the overflow. BGMEA Director Faisal Samad said that while the export section of the cargo village remained unharmed, the loss of vital samples could result in cancelled or non-renewed orders from foreign buyers, leading to “multiple impacts” across the sector.

BGMEA Senior Vice-President Inamul Haq Khan said the association is collecting reports of losses and has secured assurances of government support from Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin. He called for a swift investigation and enhanced airport security to restore buyers’ confidence.

Authorities have directed the cargo village to operate 24/7, including weekends, to expedite clearance of imported materials, while BGMEA instructed members to remove goods within 36 hours to ease congestion.

Broader Impact on Pharmaceuticals and Technology

The fire affected not only garment materials but also pharmaceuticals and telecom equipment.
Muhammad Halimuzzaman, deputy managing director of Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Limited, warned that Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry faces serious disruption since most companies had consignments of temperature-sensitive raw materials stored at the facility. “Even a single batch loss can halt production,” he said, emphasizing the urgency of government intervention to accelerate import approvals and resume the supply of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).

Business Losses Mount

Mizanur Rahman of Salvation Logistics reported that all 40 of his company’s consignments — primarily telecom items — were either burned or damaged. Belal Hossain of Jane Trading Ltd estimated that his clients lost goods worth around Tk 200 crore.

Mohammad Rafiq of Matata Trading Company Limited said consignments valued at Tk 250–300 crore were completely destroyed. Most of the items were high-value mobile components such as ICs, displays, and accessories for major brands like Oppo, Xiaomi, Vivo, Samsung, OnePlus, and Realme.

Allegations of Delayed Response

The Dhaka Customs Agents Association accused both the Civil Aviation Authority and the fire service of a delayed and poorly coordinated response, claiming the delay led to “irreparable damage.”

In response, Commerce Adviser Bashir Uddin stated that a full probe is underway, asserting that firefighting teams were deployed within 30 seconds of the report and that 37 units worked to extinguish the blaze with additional water support from WASA.

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