Fire at HSIA cargo village, 28 fire units battle blaze, flights unaffected

A fire has broken out at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), triggering a major emergency response.

According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, nine firefighting units reached the scene shortly after receiving the alert at 2:34 pm on Saturday, October 18.

The response has since been scaled up significantly, with a total of 28 fire units now working to bring the blaze under control.

The cargo village, a key facility within the airport perimeter that stores imported goods awaiting customs clearance, was engulfed in flames, though the cause and extent of damage remain under investigation.

In a statement issued soon after the incident, Muhammad Kausar Mahmud, Assistant Director (Public Relations) of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), confirmed that all flight operations at the airport are currently normal.

“Immediately after the incident, the airport fire section, Bangladesh Air Force fire unit, and other relevant agencies quickly reached the spot and jointly began firefighting operations,” Mahmud said. “Everyone is requested to stay safe and remain aware. A detailed report will be provided once the situation is fully under control.”

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with no disruption reported to inbound or outbound flights as of Saturday evening.