The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has called for an immediate and impartial investigation into the devastating fire at the cargo village of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
It has also urged the government to ensure compensation for affected exporters and to take urgent steps to restore normal shipment operations.
The trade body warned that the fire, which gutted large volumes of imported raw materials, accessories, and export-ready goods on Saturday, has severely disrupted the apparel supply chain and could undermine the confidence of foreign buyers in Bangladesh’s export reliability.
A BGMEA delegation led by Senior Vice President Inamul Haque Khan visited the fire-ravaged cargo complex on Sunday to assess the damage.
The team met Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Adviser to the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, and conveyed the apparel sector’s concern over the potential impact on export commitments. Civil Aviation Secretary Nasreen Jahan and senior officials were also present during the meeting.
Following the discussion, Adviser Bashir Uddin instructed officials to expedite the release of imported raw materials within 36 hours instead of the usual 72, and announced that the affected consignments would temporarily be stored in Building No. 3 of the cargo village to facilitate rapid handling.
Speaking to reporters after the visit, BGMEA leaders said the losses include high-value raw materials, accessories, and product samples — items crucial for ongoing and future export orders.
“Many of the samples destroyed in the fire were linked to potential new orders. Losing them means losing future business opportunities,” said Inamul Haque Khan, BGMEA Senior Vice President.
He added that BGMEA has begun assessing the full extent of the losses. Members have been asked to submit detailed reports through a prescribed format, and a dedicated online portal has been launched to collect the data. The association plans to hold a coordination meeting soon with the Civil Aviation Authority, Customs, and other agencies to finalise recovery measures.
The BGMEA delegation included Vice President (Finance) Mizanur Rahman, Directors Faisal Samad, Mozumdar Arifur Rahman, Kazi Mizanur Rahman, Rumana Rashid, Mohammad Sohel, former Director Nazrul Islam, and Committee Chairs Masud Kabir and Md. Nisher Khan.
Inamul Haque Khan said BGMEA expects the authorities to take decisive steps to determine whether the incident was an accident or an act of sabotage, ensure compensation for affected entrepreneurs, and maintain the smooth flow of export shipments despite the current disruptions. He also urged enhanced cargo security at the airport to prevent any recurrence.
“This tragic incident has dealt a serious blow to Bangladesh’s apparel industry,” Khan said. “We hope the government will act swiftly to restore confidence among our international buyers and safeguard the country’s export reputation.”