A government probe has found that the massive fire at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport occurred due to a complete failure to ensure proper security and fire safety, with serious negligence by the Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh (CAAB), the lessee Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and courier shed operators.
The findings were submitted to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday.
A summary was later shared through the press wing’s WhatsApp group.
The investigation committee — formed on October 18 — comprised experts from the Fire Service and Civil Defence, CID Forensics, Armed Forces Division, NSI, Explosives Directorate, Desco, CTTC, Buet and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. A technical team from Turkey’s AFAD also assisted.
The report highlights multiple systemic failures and warns that similar incidents may recur due to poor management. One of its key recommendations is the formation of an independent authority to operate the airport.
Major findings
According to the report, the CAAB (as the lessor) failed to ensure security and fire safety at the courier and cargo shed, which did not comply with building construction rules. The section where the fire began had no approved design.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines, as the lessee, also failed to ensure minimum safety standards, while courier agencies did not maintain adequate fire protection in their sheds. About 75% of the stored goods were auctionable, but customs neither removed nor auctioned them.
There were no fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers, fire hydrants or an on-site fire station. Fire service units were delayed reaching the spot, with vehicles obstructed by nearly 400 tonnes of goods piled in the apron area.
Highly flammable materials — including polythene-wrapped fabric rolls, chemicals, perfume and body spray canisters, electronic items, batteries and pharmaceutical raw materials — were stored without any safety protocols.
Cause of fire confirmed
The committee interviewed 99 witnesses and reviewed CCTV footage collected by DGFI from multiple agencies. The fire was confirmed to have originated between the cages of DHL, RS and SRK couriers in the extended northwest section of the shed. These findings were corroborated by Turkish experts, Buet engineers, firefighting specialists and CID forensics.
The report notes that Shahjalal Airport has seen seven fire incidents since 2013, and lacks the institutional capacity to prevent or respond to such emergencies. An inspection on October 27 found inadequate infrastructure, equipment and training at the airport fire station.
A memorandum of understanding between the airport and FSCD has remained pending for nine years. A 2021 recommendation by BNACWC to relocate hazardous goods warehouses was also ignored.
Key recommendations
- Establish an independent authority to operate and maintain the airport, with Civil Aviation retaining only regulatory responsibilities.
- Limit Biman’s activities to flight operations and assign ground handling and related functions to trained operators appointed through Civil Aviation.
- Immediately set up a special-class fire station at the airport and prepare an urgent fire safety plan.
- Relocate hazardous and chemical warehouses; establish a separate customs warehouse for auctionable goods; and ban storage of goods in the apron area.
- Implement ICAO standards, the National Building Code and other mandatory safety rules across all KPI-protected areas.
