Fire At Dhaka Airport’s Cargo Terminal Forces Flight Suspensions; Authorities Confirm No Casualties So Far

A massive fire broke out on Saturday afternoon at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka, one of South Asia’s busiest airports, forcing authorities to suspend all flight operations and sparking a large-scale emergency response.

Massive Fire Erupts At Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport In Dhaka

Massive fire at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka.

This is baaaad. May Allah save Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/rJTN2Yl23a

— TPS (@thepeaceseekr) October 18, 2025

The fire reportedly began around 2:15 pm near Gate No. 8, in the cargo village of the airport, an area where imported goods are stored before being cleared for delivery. Within minutes, huge clouds of black smoke started rising into the sky, visible from several parts of Dhaka, according to India Today reports. Passengers waiting for flights were seen being evacuated from terminals as firefighters rushed to the spot.

Airport officials said the situation turned serious quickly. According to News 18, Biman Bangladesh spokesperson Kawser Mahmud confirmed that fire teams from the airport fire department, the Bangladesh Air Force, and the Fire Service and Civil Defence were all deployed to control the flames. 

All necessary fire units are currently working to contain the fire, HSIA Executive Director SM Ragib Samad told BSS, as per the News 18 reports. In order to protect everyone’s safety, he added, flights have been temporarily suspended

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Emergency Teams Rush To Control The Fire

The scale of the operation has been massive, with the Air Force, Fire Service, Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority, and even the Navy working together. Officials said there have been no immediate reports of casualties or major damage, but the full extent of the fire’s impact will only be clear once the flames are completely out, News 18 reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, though authorities suspect it began in one of the cargo storage sections.

All aircraft are safe, according to an airport spokesperson who also told local media that the airport will reopen for flights as soon as the area is deemed secure, India Today via The Daily Star reported. As a number of departures and arrivals continue to be postponed or cancelled, travellers are being advised to stay informed through official announcements.

With many travellers stranded and cargo operations at a standstill, the fire has caused major disruption in Dhaka, especially at the airport. As of right now, emergency personnel are working nonstop to control the situation before nightfall.

Cover Image Courtesy: Mohammad Tashik/X