Panic gripped the capital on Saturday afternoon as a massive fire tore through the cargo village at Gate 8 of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), unleashing towering flames and dense black smoke visible from up to six kilometres away—reaching neighbourhoods like Uttara, Banani, and Mirpur.
Within minutes, the sky over Dhaka darkened, with social media flooded by videos of jet-black plumes rising like storm clouds, sparking fears of an aircraft disaster.
The fire broke out at approximately 2:34 pm, according to Talha Bin Jasim, an officer at the Fire Service’s media cell. Initial reports suggest the blaze may have originated from flammable cargo or an electrical fault, though the exact cause remains under investigation. The cargo village—a high-security zone handling imported and export-bound goods, including electronics, pharmaceuticals, and industrial materials—is now feared to have suffered significant economic losses.
A colossal emergency response has been mounted: 36 fire service units are currently battling the inferno. They are supported by two firefighting units from the Bangladesh Air Force, Navy emergency crews, and two platoons from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), all working in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Civil Defence Department.
“Black smoke started rising immediately and grew thicker by the minute,” Jasim said. “The intensity is extreme—there’s likely hazardous material inside intensifying the fire.”
Group Captain SM Ragib Samad, Executive Director of HSIA, confirmed the severity of the situation during an on-site briefing: “This is a serious emergency. All agencies are united on the ground—Fire Service, CAA, Civil Defence, Air Force, Navy. We are doing everything possible to control it.”
Initially, authorities claimed flight operations were unaffected. But as smoke drifted toward runways and visibility dropped, the Civil Aviation Authority announced a temporary suspension of all arrivals and departures. Assistant Director (Public Relations) Muhammad Kausar Mahmud confirmed the decision, urging passengers to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information.
Passengers stranded inside terminals described scenes of confusion. “We saw thick black smoke from the windows and heard constant sirens,” said Sadia Rahman, awaiting a domestic flight. “Announcements told us not to panic—but everyone was filming. It was terrifying.”
Multiple flights have already been diverted: a US-Bangla flight from Bangkok, an Air Arabia service from Sharjah, and a Biman flight from Saidpur all landed in Chittagong; an IndiGo flight from Delhi diverted to Kolkata; a US-Bangla domestic flight from Chittagong returned mid-air; and a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong remains in holding pattern, unable to land.
Firefighters report extreme heat, poor visibility, and potential chemical hazards inside the compound. Though all personnel were reportedly evacuated early, injuries have not yet been officially confirmed. The Airport Security Force (ASF) and Department of Explosives are now investigating whether lithium batteries or other dangerous goods were stored on-site.
Environmental concerns are mounting as experts warn the black smoke may contain toxic fumes, posing respiratory risks to nearby residents. Calls are growing for an immediate air-quality assessment in surrounding areas.
As night aproaches, the fire remains not fully contained, with drones and thermal cameras scanning for hotspots across multiple warehouse blocks. A full damage assessment—likely running into millions of dollars—is expected in the coming days.
For now, Dhaka holds its breath, its skyline still stained by smoke, as emergency crews fight to save not just a facility, but a vital artery of the nation’s trade and connectivity.