Govt waives flight costs, HSIA fire unit acted in 30 sec: adviser

The government will waive all charges for non-scheduled flights for the next three days, while Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) own fire unit reached the Cargo Village within 30 seconds of Saturday's devastating fire, Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said.

"Our airport's own firefighting team reached the spot within 30 seconds, as informed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman," the adviser told reporters after visiting the fire-ravaged Cargo Village on Sunday afternoon.

He dismissed allegations that the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) units were delayed in entering the airport premises but said any such claims would be taken into consideration during the post-incident review.

"The situation was handled swiftly and in coordination with all agencies," Sk Bashir said, adding that an investigation would identify any lapses and ensure lessons for future emergency responses.

The adviser announced a package of immediate government measures, including the waiver of all airport-related costs and fees for non-scheduled flights for three days to help ease the backlog created by the temporary suspension of operations.

"We have also taken responsibility for passengers' meals, accommodation, and services to reduce inconvenience," he said, adding "Our priority is to maintain uninterrupted passenger welfare and restore full normalcy at the earliest."

Bashir said a total of 21 flights were diverted or cancelled following the fire, which erupted around 2:15 pm on Saturday in the import section of the Cargo Village. 

"Thanks to the combined efforts of 36 units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the blaze was fully extinguished by 8:30 pm," he said.

The adviser confirmed that an inter-ministerial meeting had been convened this afternoon to assess the situation and determine the next steps, including damage evaluation, compensation mechanisms, and operational restoration.

"At present, a comprehensive damage assessment is underway to determine the extent of losses," he said, "The evaluation covers both the financial value and the weight of damaged goods, along with a sector-wise analysis of the affected facilities."

He said the government had pledged to reopen airport operations by 9:00 pm on Saturday, and "we succeeded in doing so".

Expressing regret over passenger inconvenience, Sk Bashir said, "I sincerely apologize to all passengers who suffered difficulties because of the incident. We are managing several issues simultaneously, and while some minor 
disruptions may occur, we are working tirelessly to restore full stability."

He also informed that the authorities have set a 36-hour clearance target for incoming cargo and that the existing insurance framework will be taken into account while addressing compensation claims.

BGMEA expresses concern over extensive losses

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said 
the fire caused severe damage to the country's export-oriented garment sector, destroying export-ready apparel, valuable raw materials, and vital product samples used for new business orders.

"This incident has dealt a serious blow to Bangladesh's export trade, particularly the readymade garment (RMG) industry," BGMEA Senior Vice-President Inamul Haque Khan told reporters after visiting the site.

He said high-value consignments and urgent shipments transported by air had been "burned to ashes," describing the loss of product samples as a major setback for ongoing and future business negotiations.

"These samples are essential for developing new buyers and expanding export markets. Losing them means losing future opportunities," he said.BGMEA has already issued letters to its member factories asking for detailed loss inventories in a prescribed format, while an online data-collection portal has been launched to speed up the process.

Almost all BGMEA member factories use air freight to meet urgent export deadlines. Between 200 and 250 factories send goods by air daily, meaning the impact is "significant", Inamul noted.

"We went inside and saw the devastation . . . it may take 15 days to a month to bring the operations back to normal," he said.
 
BGMEA Director Faisal Samad said they met with adviser Bashir at the site and held an on-spot coordination meeting. 

He said BGMEA had also agreed to form a joint working committee with Customs to ensure fast clearance and prevent congestion.

The BGMEA leadership said it was coordinating closely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Customs authorities, airport officials, and other stakeholders to ensure quick recovery and smooth handling of ongoing shipments.

A massive fire broke out at HSIA's Cargo Village on Saturday afternoon, forcing a six-hour suspension of flight operations as multiple agencies, including the Fire Service, armed forces, and airport authorities, worked in tandem to bring the flames under control.

According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters, the fire originated around 2:15 pm in the import section of the Cargo Village.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that teams from the Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Navy, Fire Service and Civil Defence, and Civil Aviation Authority jointly took part in the operation.

Airport sources said flames spread rapidly through the import area where various goods, including apparel materials, machinery, and imported consignments, were stored. Plumes of thick black smoke were seen rising from the facility, disrupting air traffic and forcing several aircraft to divert.

At the peak of the blaze, more than 36 firefighting units were engaged on site while additional reinforcements from nearby fire stations were dispatched as a precaution.

For safety reasons, aircraft parked near the cargo apron were towed to secure locations.