All imported goods destroyed in Dhaka airport fire: Aviation adviser

All imported goods stored at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Cargo Village were completely destroyed in the fire, according to Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Adviser to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. However, he said efforts are underway to determine the exact financial loss by sector.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday afternoon (19 October) during his visit to the burned Cargo Village, the adviser said, “A committee has been formed to investigate the incident. It will examine the circumstances before and after the fire, and after discussions with all stakeholders—including intelligence and investigative agencies—we will uncover the full picture behind the incident.”

He added that all allegations are being taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. “We are checking for any irregularities or negligence by any individual or department,” he said.

“To ensure uninterrupted cargo delivery, we will operate round the clock for the next seven days,” he continued. “We are also assessing the insurance coverage of the affected importers as well as that of the airport itself before making a final decision.”

Sheikh Bashir Uddin further said that around 21 flights were cancelled on Saturday due to the fire. “The government has decided to waive all extra charges for affected passengers over the next three days by operating additional flights,” he announced.

“To determine our next course of action, an inter-ministerial meeting has been called at 3:30 pm today,” he said. “We had promised to resume airport operations by 9 pm last night, and we successfully did so. Although around 21 flights had to be cancelled, passengers affected by the disruption will face no additional costs.”

The adviser also assured, “The government will bear the cost of the two-day disruption in flight schedules.”