Smoke still rises from Dhaka Airport cargo village day after major blaze

Dhaka: Even a day after the massive fire at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital, smoke continued to drift from the site on October 19, as firefighters worked to fully douse the remaining flames.

According to on-site reports, fire service teams were still spraying water inside the damaged area, with thick plumes of smoke seen rising intermittently. The fire, which erupted around 2:00 pm on October 18 near Gate 8 of the airport’s cargo village, spread quickly through warehouses storing imported goods.

Airport officials confirmed that flight operations, which were suspended for about seven hours due to the incident, resumed around 9:00 pm on October 18 and have since returned to normal.

In total, 37 fire service units battled the blaze for roughly six hours before bringing it under control. Members of the army were also deployed to assist with rescue operations and maintain order around the site. While no deaths were reported, at least 25 members of the Ansar force sustained injuries while helping firefighters contain the inferno.

Fire service officer Talha Bin Jashim stated that the flames had originated in an area used for storing imported items. The Ministry of Civil Aviation later confirmed in a statement that the fire had been fully controlled by 9:00 pm and that flight services had resumed.

Civil Aviation Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin told reporters that an investigation would be launched to determine the exact cause of the fire. When asked about the possibility of sabotage, he declined to comment, urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.

Meanwhile, Biman Bangladesh Airlines announced the formation of a seven-member committee to investigate the incident, with a report expected within five working days. The finance ministry has also set up a five-member panel to assess the financial losses caused by the fire.

Additionally, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has implemented special measures to ensure uninterrupted import and export activities at the Dhaka Customs House despite the damage caused by the blaze.

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