A devastating fire at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Cargo Village has turned goods belonging to traders of all scales—from small entrepreneurs to major importers—into ashes. The inferno wiped out a wide range of items, including readymade garments, pharmaceutical raw materials, international courier parcels, and e-commerce products.

Most of the affected consignments were due for release within a day or two, but that anticipation has now turned into despair. Distraught traders are desperately reaching out to their clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents for updates on their shipments. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) estimates that products from nearly 250 factories may have been lost in the blaze.

Standing in front of Gate No. 8 of the Cargo Village on Sunday, Mohammad Benjir, owner of Uttara-based importing firm ‘First and Safe’, said, “Two shipments of readymade garments from Hong Kong and China, including sample products, have been burned. I’m a small businessman — losing goods worth even around five lakh taka is a huge blow. Today was supposed to be the day my goods were released.”

Imran Ahmed, Managing Director of Gemtex Linkage Industries, said around 40 kilograms of lace accessories imported from India, worth roughly Tk2 crore, were stored in the Cargo Village. “My C&F agent informed me that there’s a 99% chance the goods are burned,” he said. “We imported these urgently by air to meet a shipment deadline worth $162,000 in exports. This export will likely be canceled now, as I’ve already missed a previous delivery deadline. The buyer would have accepted the shipment only if I could deliver by the end of this month.”

Md. Shahinur Islam of Shawon Enterprise, a C&F agent, said some hospital equipment imported for a Chattogram hospital, valued at around $3,600, had been destroyed in the fire. “We were supposed to receive the goods today, but so far, there’s been no trace. We believe they’re burned.”

A BGMEA delegation led by Senior Vice President Inamul Haque Khan visited the site, followed by visits from Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) President Mohammad Hatem and Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) President Md. Shahriar.

After the visit, Inamul Haque told reporters that air shipments generally involve high-value and urgent consignments. “Garments, valuable raw materials, and crucial samples for new businesses have all been burned,” he said. “Around 200–250 factories ship goods by air every day, so the total damage may be extensive.” BGMEA plans to hold a coordination meeting with the airport authorities, the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, Customs, and other relevant agencies.

BGMEA Director Faisal Samad described the scene as “horrific,” saying the entire import section had been gutted. He added that the Commerce Adviser, who was present at the site, assured immediate support for restarting import operations. Temporary arrangements will be made at Terminal 3 for handling imported goods, and the release period has been shortened from 72 to 36 hours to expedite clearance.

BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem said, “The export sector has suffered the greatest blow. The products stored here are gone — the damage could amount to several thousand crores of taka. The loss will likely multiply beyond the burned goods themselves. Without government assistance, it will be impossible to recover. We must consider whether these repeated fire incidents are accidental or deliberate. The government should seriously investigate whether this is part of a larger conspiracy.”

BGAPMEA President Md. Shahriar said goods worth over Tk100 crore belonging to their members had been destroyed, but most were insured. “If the insurance coverage is properly executed, we may be able to recover from the loss,” he added.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) expressed sympathy for the affected traders and urged the government to provide adequate support for their recovery.

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President Taskin Ahmed called for effective and immediate measures to strengthen fire and overall safety systems at all levels of the country’s airports and ports.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, after inspecting the site, said all imported goods stored in the cargo area had been destroyed. “We’re working to determine the losses sector by sector,” he said. “Even last night, new commercial cargo arrived. For the sake of trade, we cannot suspend operations. An alternative site has been designated near Terminal 3 to keep transportation ongoing.”

He added that a damage assessment is underway to calculate both the financial losses and the weight of destroyed goods, alongside sector-based analysis. In response to questions from journalists, he said, “We are not ruling out the possibility of sabotage.”

Meanwhile, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) announced that import-export activities are continuing under special arrangements. The Civil Aviation Authority has designated a temporary space called “GSE Maintenance” for storing goods. Customs officials are conducting physical inspections there, while ASYCUDA World connectivity has been established at Gate 9 to process cargo clearance.