Written by Lisa Murimi
A massive fire broke out on Saturday in the cargo section of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, forcing authorities to suspend all flights as firefighters battled to contain the blaze, local media reported.
According to The Daily Star, at least 36 firefighting units have been deployed to the airport as emergency teams work to extinguish the flames.
“All our aircraft are confirmed safe. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops,” the newspaper quoted an airport spokesperson as saying.
Talha Bin Zasim, an officer with the Fire Service and Civil Defence Media Cell, confirmed that firefighting efforts were ongoing and that crews were struggling to bring the situation under control due to heavy smoke in the cargo area.
The extent of the damage and the cause of the fire remain unclear. No casualties have been reported so far.
The airport, which serves as Bangladesh’s main international gateway, has suspended all incoming and outgoing flights as a precautionary measure. Passengers have been evacuated from affected areas, and operations are expected to resume only after the fire is fully contained.
Media sources could not independently verify the reports, and the airport authorities have yet to issue an official statement.
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport handles millions of passengers and large volumes of cargo annually, making it one of South Asia’s busiest aviation hubs. The sudden suspension of flights has caused significant disruption to both domestic and international air traffic.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid the airport area to allow emergency responders to work unhindered. Further details are expected as the situation develops.
