The blaze that broke out at the Cargo Village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) this afternoon has been fully brought under control, and flight operations are set to resume from 9:00 pm tonight, according to the civil aviation and tourism ministry, says BSS report.
The fire, which erupted around 2:15 pm, was contained following a prompt and coordinated effort by the Fire Service and Airport Authority while no casualties have been reported in the incident, said the ministry in a press release this evening.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin has been present at the airport, closely monitoring the overall situation since the outbreak of the fire.
The release said that all relevant agencies worked in close coordination to ensure the fire was completely extinguished and that flight operations could safely resume.
An official investigation has already been initiated to determine the cause of the fire, it added.
The ministry said appropriate measures will be taken to identify the source of the blaze and prevent any recurrence in the future.
The ministry expressed gratitude to passengers and the general public for their patience and cooperation during the temporary disruption.
Five-member committee formed to assess HSIA fire damage
The government has formed a five-member committee to assess the total damage caused by the massive fire that broke out this afternoon at the Cargo Village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) here.
According to official sources, the fire began around 2:15 pm in the courier warehouse area of the cargo complex, which stores imported goods.
The committee is headed by Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Patwary, Joint Secretary of the Internal Resources Division. Other members include Md Roich Uddin Khan and Md Tarek Hasan, both First Secretaries of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Muhammad Kamrul Hasan, Joint Commissioner of Dhaka Customs House and Pankaj Barua, Deputy Secretary of the Internal Resources Division, who will serve as member-secretary, a press release said.
The committee has been tasked with assessing the full extent of the damage and submitting a detailed report to the government as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the NBR has taken special measures to ensure continued import and export operations through Dhaka Customs House despite the disruption caused by the fire.
Biman forms committee to probe HSIA fire
Biman Bangladesh Airlines today formed a high-level committee to probe into the fire incident that broke out earlier in the day at the Cargo Village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).
According to an office order the seven-member committee has been constituted with the Chief of Flight Safety of Biman Bangladesh Airlines as its chairman.
Representatives from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Biman’s General Manager (Corporate Safety and Quality), the Chief Engineer (Quality Assurance), the Deputy General Managers (Security and Cargo–Export), and the Deputy Manager (Insurance) have been included as members.
The committee has been tasked to identify the cause of the fire, assessing the extent of damage, determining responsibility, and recommending measures to prevent any similar incident in future.
The committee has been asked to submit a detailed report to the Biman’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer within five working days.
Security services investigate each fire incident thoroughly: CA Press Wing
The government in a statement today said that the security services are investigating each fire incident thoroughly and protecting lives and property with utmost vigilance.
“The Interim Government is aware of public concern regarding some major fires in several locations across the country. We wish to assure all citizens that the security services are investigating each incident thoroughly and protecting lives and property with utmost vigilance,” said the statement issued by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing this evening.
“Any credible evidence of sabotage or arson will be met with a swift and resolute response,” it said, adding, no act of criminality or provocation will be allowed to disrupt the public life and political process.
“Let us be clear: if these fires prove to be acts of sabotage, and their aim is to sow panic and division, they’ll succeed only if we allow fear to overtake our reason and our resolve,” the statement read.
“Bangladesh has faced many challenges before, and together we will face any threats to our new democracy with unity, calm and determination. We have nothing to fear but fear itself,” it said.