Dhaka, Nov 26 (V7N) – A devastating fire at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has been attributed to failures by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB/BEBICHK), the cargo shed leaseholders, and Biman Bangladesh Airlines in maintaining fire safety and building compliance. The findings were revealed in the investigation report submitted to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday.

The fire, which occurred on October 18, caused significant damage to airport facilities and cargo. The committee, composed of domestic and international aviation, fire safety, and forensic experts, identified multiple lapses in airport management.

The report noted that the leaseholders of the cargo and courier sheds failed to ensure adequate fire protection according to building regulations. The fire originated in a section of the sheds that had been constructed without approved designs, housing flammable and hazardous materials. Biman Bangladesh Airlines, as the operator, failed to provide essential safety services, and courier agencies did not maintain fire prevention measures.

Approximately 75 percent of goods in the courier shed were auctionable, yet customs did not relocate or auction them. Fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers, and hydrants were absent, delaying the Uttara Fire Brigade, which arrived at 2:50 PM. Blocked access due to stacked cargo on the apron further hindered firefighting efforts.

The investigation reviewed potential causes including explosives, arson, electrical faults, and chemical hazards, interviewing 99 witnesses from CAAB, Biman, customs, and courier agencies, and analyzing CCTV footage. Findings confirmed the fire originated between cages of DHL, RS, and SRK courier agencies in the northwest corner of the shed, as corroborated by reports from Turkish and BUET experts, fire specialists, and CID forensics.

The committee highlighted noncompliance with the Bangladesh National Building Code and noted that seven prior fires since 2013 had exposed CAAB’s lack of institutional fire safety capacity. A memorandum of understanding with the Fire Service and Civil Defence for coordinated preparedness had not been finalized for nine years. Previous recommendations to relocate hazardous goods were ignored.

Recommendations include creating a dedicated airport authority responsible for operations and maintenance, while BEBICHK acts solely as a regulator. The report emphasizes strict implementation of ICAO standards, national building codes, and civil aviation safety regulations. Biman Bangladesh’s role should be limited to flight operations, with ground handling assigned to trained operators under civil aviation supervision. The committee also called for constructing a specialized fire station within the airport, developing an emergency fire safety plan, relocating hazardous and chemical goods, and creating separate customs storage for auctionable cargo.

The committee comprised experts from Turkey, Bangladesh Fire Service & Civil Defence, CID Forensics, Armed Forces Division, National Security Intelligence, Explosives Department, DESCO, Counter-Terrorism & Transnational Crime, BUET, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

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