Blaze erupts at Dhaka airport, Bangladesh; all flights temporarily halted

A blaze erupted at the cargo terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

All flight operations have been halted, according to Bangladeshi media, which reported the fire began around 2:30 pm local time near Gate 8.

Talha Bin Zasim, of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Media Cell, confirmed that twenty-eight units were already deployed to control the flames, with additional reinforcements en route.

An airport spokesperson stated, “All aircraft are safe. Further updates will follow as the situation unfolds,” as quoted by The Daily Star.

The Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority, Fire Service, and two fire units from the Bangladesh Air Force are also involved in combating the fire, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported.

Two platoons from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have joined rescue and safety operations.

Reports indicate that the fire broke out in the airport’s cargo village, the area storing imported goods.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, and there have been no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.

A major fire broke out on Saturday afternoon at the cargo terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, disrupting airport operations and forcing authorities to suspend all flights temporarily.

According to Bangladeshi media, the fire began around 2:30 pm local time near Gate 8 of the airport’s cargo village, an area primarily used for storing imported goods. Thick smoke was seen billowing from the terminal as emergency teams rushed to the site to contain the flames.

Talha Bin Zasim, a representative from the Fire Service and Civil Defence Media Cell, confirmed that twenty-eight firefighting units were deployed to battle the blaze, with additional support teams called in soon after. Firefighters were seen working continuously to bring the situation under control as reinforcements from nearby stations arrived.

An airport spokesperson assured that all aircraft stationed at the airport were safe and that there was no immediate threat to passengers or crew. “All planes are confirmed safe. Further updates will be shared once the situation stabilises,” the spokesperson said, according to The Daily Star.

The Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority, Fire Service, and Bangladesh Air Force coordinated closely in the firefighting efforts. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that two Air Force fire units and two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) also joined the rescue and control operations.

Although the fire caused significant disruption to flight schedules and operations at the country’s busiest airport, officials stated that the cause of the fire has not yet been determined. As of now, there are no reports of casualties or major property damage, but a detailed assessment is underway.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine how the fire began and to assess the full extent of losses.

Preliminary reports suggest that the fire started in the cargo village, where imported goods are usually held before customs clearance. However, the exact cause of the blaze remains unknown. Officials have stated that an investigation will be launched once the fire is fully extinguished to determine the source and assess the scale of damage.

As of now, there are no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities, and authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation until official findings are released.

The incident has caused temporary disruption at one of South Asia’s busiest airports, with all flights suspended until further notice while crews continue their firefighting and safety inspection efforts.