Massive Fire Erupts at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport — Flight Operations Suspended

Dhaka, October 18, 2025 — A massive fire broke out this afternoon at the cargo village section of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, forcing authorities to suspend all flight operations and divert several domestic and international flights.

According to officials, the fire started around 2:30 PM local time near Gate 8, within the cargo handling area where imported goods are stored. Eyewitnesses reported thick plumes of black smoke rising from the site as dozens of firefighting units from the Fire Service, Bangladesh Air Force, Navy, and Border Guard joined forces to bring the blaze under control.

All operations have been temporarily halted to ensure safety, confirmed Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson Mohammad Mahbub Ali, adding that emergency teams were working to prevent the fire from spreading to the passenger terminals.

At least 36 firefighting units were deployed to tackle the flames, with fire personnel battling extreme heat and dense smoke for several hours. Some inbound flights were diverted to Chattogram and Sylhet airports, while outbound flights remained grounded.

Though no fatalities have been officially reported, several firefighters were reportedly treated for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but early reports suggest it may have originated in a section containing stored cargo materials.

The sudden suspension of operations has created major disruptions for passengers and logistics companies, with hundreds of travelers stranded at the airport and several tons of import goods delayed.

Government officials have been briefed on the situation and instructed the authorities to conduct a full investigation into the incident and ensure passenger safety.

As of Saturday evening, emergency crews were still working to fully extinguish the fire. Airport officials said flight operations would resume only after safety assessments are complete.