**Massive Fire at Dhaka Airport Cargo Complex Causes Extensive Damage to Garment Exports**
A massive fire broke out on Saturday afternoon at the import cargo complex of Dhaka airport, causing extensive damage to goods and materials belonging to major garment exporters. Industry leaders estimate that the losses and impacts on trade could run into millions of dollars.
The blaze erupted in the import section of the airport’s cargo village, forcing a temporary suspension of flights. Smoke continued to rise from the charred remains of the facility on Sunday as firefighters and airport officials assessed the situation.
The fire gutted storage areas used for imported raw materials, ready-to-export apparel, and product samples— all crucial components of Bangladesh’s $47 billion garment industry.
“This incident has caused serious damage to the country’s export trade, especially the garment sector,” said Inamul Haq Khan, senior vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
He added, “High-value goods and urgent air shipments have been destroyed including garments prepared for shipment, raw materials for production, and, most importantly, product samples.”
**Critical Loss of Product Samples**
Khan warned that the loss of product samples could jeopardize future business opportunities. “These samples are essential for securing new buyers and expanding orders. Losing them means our members may miss out on future opportunities,” he explained.
In response, BGMEA has started gathering information from affected exporters to determine the full extent of the losses. “We have asked all members to submit detailed lists of damaged goods, and an online portal has been launched to speed up data collection,” Khan said.
**Significance of the Airport Cargo Village**
The airport cargo village is one of Bangladesh’s busiest logistics hubs, handling more than 600 metric tons of dry cargo daily—a figure that doubles during the October to December peak season.
“Every day, around 200 to 250 factories send their products by air,” Khan stated. “Given that scale, the financial impact is significant.”
**Investigation Underway Amid Multiple Fires**
The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined, and an investigation is currently underway.
This incident marks the third major fire reported in Bangladesh within a week. Earlier fires included a Tuesday blaze at a garment factory and an adjacent chemical warehouse in Dhaka, which killed at least 16 people and injured others. On Thursday, a seven-story garment factory building in an export processing zone in Chittagong was also destroyed by fire.
**Impact on Bangladesh’s Garment Industry**
Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest exporter of apparel after China. The garment sector supplies major global retailers such as Walmart, H&M, and Gap. It employs about 4 million workers and generates approximately $40 billion a year—more than a tenth of the country’s GDP.
The recent fire, striking during the peak export season, is expected to delay shipments and create additional challenges in meeting international delivery deadlines, posing further hurdles for the vital garment sector.
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