Fire rages for 5 hours at HSIA, flights suspended, smoke chokes city
A devastating fire has been raging for more than five hours at the import cargo complex of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), paralysing flight operations and filling the Dhaka skyline with thick, black smoke visible from miles away.
The blaze, which erupted around 2:30 pm on Saturday at Gate 8 of the airport’s Cargo Village, remains uncontained as of evening.
Authorities have suspended all arrivals and departures, while at least a dozen flights have been diverted to Chattogram and Sylhet due to the deteriorating situation.
Massive multi-agency battle against the blaze
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, 37 units from 13 fire stations are battling the inferno alongside teams from the Bangladesh Air Force, Navy, and Army.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that two military fire units each from the Air Force and Navy are operating inside the affected zone.
To tackle the extreme heat and hazardous fumes, the Fire Service deployed a Remote-Control Firefighting Robot—a high-tech machine capable of spraying water and foam directly onto flames without endangering human firefighters. “The robot allows us to get closer to the fire where human access is impossible,” said Talha bin Jasim, officer at the Fire Service’s media cell.
Dhaka WASA has sent multiple water tankers to maintain a continuous water supply, while personnel from the police, RAB, Ansar, and BGB are engaged in crowd control, evacuation, and perimeter security.
Security forces on the frontline
Deputy Director of Ansar and VDP Md Ashiquzzaman said about 1,000 Ansar members deployed at the airport are working in the rescue and firefighting operations. “So far, 25 Ansar members have been injured while trying to assist firefighters,” he confirmed. They have been admitted to CMH and Kurmitola General Hospital.
BGB spokesperson Md Shariful Islam added that two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh are also assisting in the operation, helping with logistics and clearing access routes for emergency teams.
Flights diverted, Dhaka sky turns black
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) confirmed that all flight operations have been suspended as a safety measure.
Eight flights were diverted to Chattogram’s Shah Amanat International Airport.
One flight landed in Sylhet’s Osmani International Airport.
Several others are being rerouted mid-air or delayed indefinitely.
Witnesses reported seeing columns of dark smoke stretching across Uttara, Banani, Mirpur, and even Tejgaon, with many describing the air as “heavy and suffocating.” The cargo village area, located between the airport’s post office and hangar, stores imported goods including electronics, garments, footwear, and industrial materials—some of which may contain flammable chemicals, according to preliminary sources.
Unclear cause, mounting losses
Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire or the extent of the damage. Business owners are already reporting catastrophic losses.
Segunbagicha businessman Limon Hossain, who had imported shoes and bags from China, said his goods worth Tk 7 crore were burnt to ashes. “Everything’s gone. We were supposed to clear them tomorrow after the bank’s work. Our sources confirmed nothing survived,” he told reporters while rushing to the airport.
Uncontained and uncertain
As night descends over Dhaka, the inferno continues to rage, its orange glow lighting up the dark smoke hanging over the airport. Firefighters are still battling to prevent the blaze from spreading to adjacent hangars and logistics facilities—a task made harder by toxic fumes, high temperatures, and exploding cargo containers.
Officials say an investigation will begin once the fire is contained, but for now, the priority is saving lives and protecting infrastructure.
“It's one of the most complex and dangerous fires we’ve faced in years,” said a senior firefighter at the scene. “We’re fighting it minute by minute.”