Fire at Dhaka Airport Forces Suspension of All Flights

A major fire broke out on Saturday in the cargo section of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, forcing the suspension of all flights as emergency services rushed to contain the blaze, local media reported.

According to The Daily Star, at least 36 firefighting units were deployed to tackle the fire, which erupted in one of the airport’s cargo storage areas around midday. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the building, prompting authorities to suspend both domestic and international flight operations as a safety precaution.

Talha Bin Zasim, an officer at the Fire Service and Civil Defense Media Cell, confirmed that dozens of firefighting teams were working to bring the situation under control. “Thirty-six units are on the scene and actively working to extinguish the fire,” he told local reporters.

The extent of the damage and the cause of the fire were not immediately clear. Officials have not reported any casualties so far, but firefighters said the large volume of stored cargo and the intensity of the flames were making operations difficult.

Airport authorities assured that all aircraft and passengers were safe. “All our aircraft are confirmed safe. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops,” The Daily Star quoted an airport spokesperson as saying.

Eyewitnesses reported chaos in and around the airport, with passengers stranded in terminals and nearby roads jammed as emergency vehicles arrived. Videos circulating on social media showed flames and smoke billowing from the cargo area, though airport officials urged the public to avoid speculation until the fire was fully contained.

Bangladesh’s Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation into the incident, and authorities are expected to assess the structural damage to the cargo terminal before resuming flight operations.

As of Saturday evening, firefighting teams were still working to fully extinguish the blaze, while rescue personnel were conducting checks to ensure no workers or staff remained inside the affected area.

Reuters said it could not immediately verify the reports independently, and the airport management did not respond to requests for comment.

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is Bangladesh’s busiest aviation hub, handling more than 20 million passengers and significant cargo volumes annually. The suspension of flights has already led to delays and diversions, with several incoming flights rerouted to nearby airports, including Chittagong and Kolkata.

Authorities said normal operations would resume once the fire was completely under control and safety inspections were completed.