The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has found no evidence of sabotage in the fire at the cargo village of Shahjalal International Airport. According to CAAB’s investigation, the fire originated inside the cargo village, specifically in the courier section.
Meanwhile, the investigation committee formed by Biman Bangladesh Airlines stated that the incident occurred due to CAAB’s mismanagement, unsafe storage of hazardous goods, and severe lapses in security. The report identified overheating or electrical short-circuiting of lithium-ion batteries as the main cause of the fire.
Biman’s committee submitted its report to the Ministry on 3 November. CAAB’s investigation is also complete, and their report is expected to be submitted to the Chairman’s office later this week.
The fire occurred on 18 October, prompting the formation of five separate investigative committees: the government’s Finance Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, Fire Service, CAAB, and Biman. Biman’s report has already been released, while the release date of other committees’ reports remains uncertain.
CAAB’s committee was initially formed on 21 October and reconstituted on 23 October, including a customs representative. The committee was instructed to submit a report within seven working days, covering the fire’s origin, losses, responsible persons or institutions, the role of CAAB’s fire-fighting system, and preventive recommendations. Despite 19 days passing, the report had not been submitted.
Air Commodore Asif Iqbal Khan, CAAB member (Security) and committee chairman, said, “No evidence of sabotage has been found so far. Electrical connections, equipment, and other potential causes are under examination.”
Biman’s investigation found that the fire started inside the ‘Courier Building’, which stored imported electronics and lithium-ion batteries without temperature-controlled storage. The complex was half the required size. Smoke emerged at 2:15 PM, and the fire spread by 2:19 PM, while the fire sprinkler system failed to activate.
The committee recommended using the unused 21,800-square-foot Ansar barracks on the north side as a new warehouse.
GLIVE/TSN