Bangladesh’s exporters have set out six urgent measures after the blaze at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s import cargo complex, urging a full investigation and a comprehensive tally of losses before implementation. 

The Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) announced the demands at a press conference in Dhaka on Monday (October 20), following the weekend fire that severely disrupted air-freight flows. 

Reading from a statement, EAB and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) president Mohammad Hatem said the incident caused not only “severe financial damage” but also reputational harm, noting that safety concerns had already affected airline operations. 

Industry figures have warned total losses tied to the disruption could exceed $1 billion. 

EAB’s six-point plan calls for: (1) expedited settlement of insurance claims for damaged goods; (2) creation of a special government fund to compensate uninsured firms and individuals; (3) modernisation and expansion of the airport’s Cargo Village with upgraded safety; (4) a dedicated, climate-controlled warehouse for pharmaceuticals; (5) siting of chemical storage at a safe distance; and (6) fully automated, technology-driven warehouse management. 

The fire broke out on Saturday (October 18) at about 2:15 pm in the airport’s cargo area; flight operations were halted for hours and later resumed that night as responders brought the blaze under control. 

Authorities said 37 firefighting units, supported by military teams, took part, with the fire fully extinguished on Sunday afternoon. 

SMS/