Discrepancies Emerge Over Timing of Dhaka Airport Fire

A major fire that broke out at the import cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka on Saturday, October 18, has sparked controversy over the exact time of the incident and raised serious questions about the response time of the Fire Service.

The fire began at around 2:15 PM, according to a statement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. However, the Fire Service and Civil Defence reported receiving the alert 15 minutes later, at 2:30 PM, and said that their first response unit arrived at 2:50 PM — approximately 35 minutes after the reported start of the fire. This time gap has drawn criticism, particularly from C&F (Clearing and Forwarding) agents working in the cargo complex.

The fire was finally brought under control after more than seven hours of firefighting, with 37 fire service units deployed on the scene. Officials declared the fire controlled at 9:18 PM, although smoke was still visible from certain areas at the time.

C&F Agents Express Frustration

Khayrul Alam Bhuiyan Mithu, Vice President of the C&F Agents Association, claimed the fire started around 2:00 PM while workers and Ansar personnel were still inside the facility. “When people rushed in to douse the flames, they were told there were explosives and chemicals inside the warehouse, and everyone was asked to move away,” he said.

He further alleged that fire trucks remained at Gate 8 for a long time due to permission-related complications, preventing timely access to the scene.

Imran Hossain, a director at a C&F company, said the fire initially broke out in the courier warehouse, particularly in DHL’s section, which houses cubicles for 25–30 different courier services. “At first, no one was allowed to enter due to concerns over high-value goods and security issues,” he added.

Officials Defend Their Actions

Brigadier General Mohammad Zahid Kamal, Director General of the Fire Service, stated, “We received the call at 2:30 PM and responded immediately. However, as it’s an international airport, some security checks are mandatory before entry.” He said he was unaware of the allegation that fire trucks were delayed at the gate and added, “An investigation will reveal everything.”

Sheikh Bashir Uddin, an advisor to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, said, “No one from the Fire Service was barred from entering. If any complaints arise, they will be investigated.”

Flight Disruption and Recovery

Flight operations were halted in the afternoon, with runway operations suspended from 3:30 PM. As a result, more than a dozen flights were diverted to Chattogram, Sylhet, and even Kolkata. The first flight was cleared for departure at 9:06 PM, after which normal operations gradually resumed.

Alongside the Fire Service, members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Ansar were deployed to help control the fire. Although no fatalities were reported, at least 25 Ansar members were injured during the incident.

Cause of the Fire Still Unclear

Initial suspicions suggest the fire originated in the Sky Capital Airlines warehouse, later spreading to DHL’s courier section, and eventually reaching the “Dangerous Goods” storage area. However, the exact cause is yet to be determined.

Employees noted that the warehouse is equipped with numerous security cameras, and analyzing CCTV footage may help pinpoint the exact time and origin of the fire.

The import cargo village at Dhaka Airport is used to store inbound goods. As the incident occurred on a public holiday, fewer staff were present, possibly delaying the initial fire response.

Experts have warned that such a delayed emergency response in a high-security cargo zone of an international airport reflects a serious lapse in safety protocols. If it is found that administrative delays or permission issues prevented timely action, the incident may be classified as a major institutional failure.