Damages caused by cargo fire at Bangladesh’s Hazrat Airport could reach $1B

Bangladesh garment exporters are estimated to lose up to US$1 billion after a huge fire broke out in the cargo section of the country’s largest airport on October 18, 2025. 

Local authorities told local media outlet Punjab Kesari that the fire started in the cargo village near Gate 8 at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, at approximately 14:30 local time. 

The incident prompted a major emergency response. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that the firefighting efforts involved multiple agencies, including the Bangladesh Fire Service, two fire units from the Bangladesh Air Force, and the Bangladesh Civil Aviation, all working together to put out the fire. 

Video footage and images shared on social media show a massive cloud of smoke rising from the airport cargo area. 

The fire was reported to have been controlled after 26 hours. Local media stated that around 35 individuals were injured while trying to manage the fire.  

Flight disruptions and export losses 

The affected cargo area was severely damaged, destroying storage filled with large amounts of raw materials, clothing, and product samples belonging to garment exporters.  

Additionally, authorities said that several flights between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Dhaka faced temporary delays and cancellations. Flights resumed soon after the fire was brought under control on October 19, 2025. 

After inspecting the site, Mohammad Hatem, President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), stated that the damage seemed to be in the thousands of crores of rupees, which is several billion US dollars. He raised concerns about whether the country was even ready to deal with such incidents. 

Meanwhile, Faisal Samad, the Director of the BGMEA, added that the whole import section has been turned to ashes, estimating that losses could reach up to $1 billion. 

At the time of writing, assessments of the damage and technical investigations were still ongoing.