Dhaka: Flight operations resumed at Bangladesh's Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday night, nearly six hours after a massive fire gutted a cargo complex and caused significant travel disruption. The first flight departed at 9:06 pm (15:06 GMT), shortly after the runway reopened at 9 pm, said SM Ragib Samad, a senior officer at the airport.
According to Ghana News Agency, the fire began in the afternoon, leading authorities to suspend all flight operations immediately. The blaze was intense, with black smoke billowing over the airport and visible from various parts of the city. It engulfed most of the cargo complex located between the main terminal and the aircraft parking bays.
Talha Bin Zasim, a spokesman for the Fire Service and Civil Defence department, reported that a total of 37 fire engines were deployed, with units from the Bangladesh Air Force and Navy joining the national fire service in the efforts. The incident caused major disruptions to air travel. Eleven incoming flights were diverted to airports in Sylhet and Chattogram, and all scheduled departures from Dhaka were suspended, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. Authorities acted quickly to move aircraft away from the endangered area.
At least 27 people assisting in the firefighting efforts were injured. Police confirmed 10 individuals were hospitalized, while an additional 17, including nine members of the Ansar security force, were taken to the Combined Military Hospital for treatment. Sheikh Basir Uddin, an adviser for the Ministry of Civil Aviation, told reporters that while the fire was still raging six hours in, the priority was to resume airport operations.
He later confirmed that firefighters had brought the flames under control and that only the import cargo warehouse was gutted, with the export cargo department unharmed. The government announced it will launch an investigation to determine the cause of the fire and the full extent of the damage. In a statement, the interim administration warned that any credible evidence of sabotage would be met with a 'swift and resolute response,' adding that no act of criminality would be allowed to disrupt public life.
