Dhaka: Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq today addressed concerns about the recent fire incident at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), stating that no fire-fighting vehicles faced obstruction during their entry to the airport’s cargo complex on Saturday.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the CAAB chairman, while responding to queries at a press briefing at the CAAB headquarters, clarified, “No fire-fighting vehicle was obstructed from entering. Neither the Fire Service nor any other agency has claimed that their vehicles were delayed in entering the site.” He emphasized the importance of avoiding misinformation about the incident, noting the presence of various rumors.
Although the CAAB airports possess fire-fighting capabilities, Siddiq mentioned that there is room for improvement. “I won’t say that we lack capability, but it needs to be strengthened further,” he stated. He attributed the severity of the blaze to the presence of flammable materials, which hindered initial control efforts.
The chairman revealed that the fire likely originated from the Import Courier Section of the Cargo Village. “We are not certain yet, but that is the preliminary assumption. Several agencies are working on the issue, and the exact cause of the fire will be known after the investigation reports are finalized,” he explained.
Siddiq detailed the rapid response to the fire, noting that the airport’s fire unit arrived within 30 seconds, with additional teams from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Fire Service joining shortly afterward. “Within 10 minutes, three fire vehicles arrived from the Air Force’s A.K. Khandaker Base, and within 20 minutes, two more from Bashar Air Base. In total, over 40 fire-fighting vehicles took part in controlling the blaze,” he said.
He also mentioned that 15 flights were rerouted following the incident, and all affected passengers reached their destinations by 4 p.m. the following day. “No casualties occurred, and a major disaster was averted thanks to coordinated efforts,” he added. Siddiq concluded by highlighting the swift resumption of airport operations, less than six hours after the incident.