Major Fire Halts All Flights at Dhaka Airport

On October 18, a major fire broke out at the cargo terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, forcing authorities to suspend all flights. According to local media, the fire started at approximately 2:30 PM local time in the airport's Cargo Village, where imported goods are stored. Videos circulating show thick, gray clouds of smoke rising from the airport premises.

Numerous fire and rescue teams rushed to the scene. Units from the Bangladesh Fire Service, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Air Force, and even the Navy were involved in the firefighting efforts. The airport's Executive Director, Mohammad Masudul Hasan Masud, confirmed the incident, stating that emergency measures were being taken to bring the situation under control.

For security reasons, authorities decided to temporarily suspend all takeoffs and landings at the airport. As a result, a number of domestic and international flights were delayed or diverted to other airports in the country, particularly Chittagong and Sylhet. For example, flights arriving from Bangkok, Delhi, and Sharjah landed in Chittagong.

At this time, the causes of the fire and the extent of the damage are not yet known. No information about casualties or fatalities has been reported. Law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation to clarify all the circumstances of the incident. Authorities have promised to publish a detailed report after the fire is extinguished and the situation is assessed.