A fire that broke out on Saturday afternoon at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka caused severe damage to imported goods and the surrounding area. According to airport officials and industry analysts, the damage was estimated at approximately $1 billion, much of it related to goods imported by the apparel industry.
“We have asked our members to immediately take stock and estimate the damages,” Faisal Samad, director, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) told Sourcing Journal. “We’re working on a portal where our members can input the names of factories that have suffered losses. It’s difficult to put a number on this right now—the warehouse didn’t only have garments, but all kinds of imports into Bangladesh over the last 15 days.”
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Residents nearby said the smoke remained thick long after the fire began, and that it took firefighters more than seven hours to extinguish the blaze. Airport officials confirmed that flights had since resumed and that alternate arrangements were being made for the storage of imported materials to ensure business operations were not further disrupted.
While estimates from exporters varied, it was unanimous that this was a major blow to the apparel industry as the site handles large volumes of cargo—averaging 800 to 1,000 tonnes per day during the current high-demand season.
“At the airport and cargo village, our commerce adviser was present and made immediate decisions,” Samad said. “Customs will now operate 24 hours a day for the next 15 days. A new shed in Terminal 3 has been allocated so that all inbound cargo can be stored there. Most importantly, he instructed all relevant agencies to fast-track incoming shipments—no bureaucratic red tape will be allowed, and everything should be cleared within 36 hours. These are good steps.”
Several industry voices have expressed concern and pointed fingers, describing these incidents as part of a broader plot to disrupt the apparel supply chain and destabilize the economy. Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus addressed such rumors in a public statement, saying, “We wish to assure all citizens that the security services are investigating each incident thoroughly and protecting lives and property with utmost vigilance. Any credible evidence of sabotage or arson will be met with a swift and resolute response. Let us be clear: if these fires prove to be acts of sabotage meant to sow panic and division, they will succeed only if we allow fear to overtake reason and resolve.”
