The full extent of the losses from the devastating fire at the imported goods cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is currently being assessed, said SK Bashir Uddin, adviser to the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Tourism, and Commerce.
He told reporters on Sunday afternoon that all imported goods stored in the cargo depot had been destroyed.
鈥榃e are now working to determine the total financial losses, the weight of the damaged goods, and conducting a sector-wise assessment,鈥� he added.
He also stated that an inter-ministerial meeting had been convened at about 3:30pm to determine the necessary actions and future plans in response to the incident.
鈥極ur commitment was to resume airport operations by 9:00pm, and we succeeded,鈥� he said, adding that around 21 flights were diverted or canceled due to the fire.
鈥楾o ease passenger inconvenience, all fees and charges for non-scheduled and additional flights have been waived for the next three days,鈥� he added.
Addressing concerns about a delayed fire response, he stated that he had spoken with Fire Service officials, who confirmed that the airport鈥檚 own firefighting unit began operations within 30 seconds of the fire breaking out.
The WASA also provided water supply support, and any complaints of delay would be taken seriously and investigated.
聽鈥楢 cataloguing committee has already been formed to analyse the pre-fire and post-fire conditions,鈥� he added.
When asked about the possibility of sabotage, the adviser stated, they are considering all possibilities; nothing is being ruled out.
He also dismissed any notion of weak firefighting capacity.
Regarding the damaged goods, he explained, normally, all imports are covered by letters of credit.
He also stated that if cargo operations were to cease, it would have a severe impact on global trade.
鈥業n coordination with NBR and BGMEA, we are arranging alternative measures and the work will continue 24/7 throughout the week to ensure an uninterrupted cargo supply,鈥� he added.
He said that they would review whether the affected goods were covered by insurance and assess the adequacy of the airport鈥檚 own insurance coverage. Based on those findings, necessary actions would be taken.
BGMEA acting president Imamul Haq Khan Bablu said that they were here to visit the affected site and assess the situation firsthand.
Typically, high-value products and urgent shipments are transported by air. The fire has completely destroyed many such critical consignments,鈥� he added.
Among the damaged goods were export-ready garments, valuable raw materials, and, most importantly, sample products prepared for upcoming business deals.
鈥楾hese samples are crucial in developing new business opportunities and the loss poses a serious threat to future export prospects and business growth,鈥� he added.
They are currently working to assess the extent of the damage and collect detailed information, he added, saying that they have sent letters to member factories requesting a list of lost or damaged goods in a prescribed format.
Almost all our members use air shipment for exports. On an average, 200鈥�250 factories export products daily by air. Hence, the financial impact of this fire is substantial,鈥� he added.
The BGMEA will soon hold a coordination meeting with all concerned authorities.
He urged the government to provide comprehensive support and compensation for the affected entrepreneurs.
He also urged the immediate facilitation of new shipments to maintain the smooth operation of exports.
鈥楢s the dry season is ongoing, we must all remain vigilant to prevent such incidents in the future. We urge all factories and industrial establishments to take heightened fire safety precautions to avoid similar tragedies,鈥� he added.
As of Sunday, white smoke continued to rise from the blazing cargo village, and firefighters were working to extinguish it completely.
Meanwhile, hundreds of importers and clearing and forwarding agents demanded clarity regarding their losses and the causes behind the deadly blaze.
They crowded the Dhaka airport cargo zone a day after a devastating fire gutted a cargo village.
Many gathered in front of the burnt-out complex, lamenting the massive losses from the blaze.
Belal Hossain of Jane Trading Ltd, a C&F agent specialising in imports for the garments sector and various foreign investors, said that they had imported goods worth Tk聽200 crore.