Major fire breaks out at Dhaka airport cargo terminal
What's the story
A major fire broke out at the cargo terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Saturday, leading to a suspension of all flight operations. The blaze started near Gate 8 around 2:30pm local time, officials said. Fire Service spokesman Talha Bin Jashim initially confirmed that nine units were deployed, with additional units arriving later, totaling 36 units engaged in efforts to extinguish the flames, according to The Daily Star.
Safety assurances
Emergency measures in place, no casualties reported
Md Masudul Hasan Masud, the airport's executive director, confirmed the fire and said emergency measures were in place. "All our aircraft are confirmed safe. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops," a spokesperson for the airport was quoted as saying by the media. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that several agencies, including the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority and the Bangladesh Fire Service, are involved in firefighting efforts.
Collaborative response
Bangladesh Navy, Air Force join firefighting efforts
The Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force have also joined in the firefighting efforts. Two fire units from the Air Force and two platoons from Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are part of this operation. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but authorities have confirmed no casualties or major damage as of now.
Operational impact
Flights to and from Dhaka temporarily suspended
In the wake of this incident, all flights to and from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport have been temporarily suspended. Several inbound flights have been diverted to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet. The airfield at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will remain closed until 6:00pm local time as authorities continue to manage the situation.