Minor Fire near Gate 8 at Dhaka Airport Doused Swiftly

Firefighters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka responded rapidly on Saturday evening after smoke was spotted emerging from a pile of refuse situated near the cargo complex.

The incident, which occurred at approximately 9:20 pm near Gate 8 close to the cargo village, briefly raised concerns among airport personnel before emergency responders extinguished the source. On-site firefighting crews acted immediately upon detecting the smoke, containing the situation before any flames could spread to critical aviation infrastructure or nearby terminal buildings.

Swift Response and Ongoing Investigation

Officials from the Fire Service and Civil Defence control room confirmed that two dedicated emergency units were dispatched to the scene to conduct a thorough inspection. Duty Officer Rashed Bin Khalid stated that by the time additional units reached the location, no active flames were discovered.

Rashed Bin Khalid, Duty Officer: “At approximately 9:30 pm, fire personnel stationed within the airport perimeter noticed smoke rising from a refuse heap situated adjacent to the cargo village. They intervened immediately and suppressed the source. No significant damage or casualties occurred.”

Emergency crews remained at the site to dampen the surrounding area and eliminate any possibility of smouldering debris reigniting. Authorities confirmed that an investigation is currently underway to determine the exact origin of the smoke, with a formal report expected upon completion of technical assessments. Flight operations and broader passenger services across the airport continued without disruption.

Recurrent Incident Highlights Ongoing Vulnerabilities

While Saturday’s incident was brought under control without material loss or operational delay, it highlights ongoing safety concerns surrounding the cargo and handling zones of the country’s primary international gateway. The freight facilities at Shahjalal International Airport have experienced multiple fire incidents over recent years, raising questions regarding safety compliance and waste management.

In October last year, a major fire tore through the airport’s main import cargo village, destroying substantial quantities of imported goods and causing severe logistics delays. Similarly, on 5 June, a separate fire broke out in a courier facility adjacent to Gate 9 within the freight zone, requiring multiple units from the Fire Service and Civil Defence to bring the blaze under control.

Although airport authorities maintain that safety protocols have been reinforced across all ground operations, the repeated occurrence of fire scares near key freight and storage gates continues to draw scrutiny from logistics operators and trade bodies reliant on the hub.