CAAB denies responsibility for cargo complex fire

The chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has once again avoided taking responsibility for the catastrophic fire at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's import cargo complex, arguing that the authority is only the owner of the building, while operational control lies with other agencies.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq reiterated that Biman Bangladesh Airlines, clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents and customs authorities are responsible for the cargo operations and management inside the facility.

"Only the infrastructure is ours," he said. "Biman manages ground handling, C&F agents handle cargo clearance, and customs authorities supervise cargo management. They determine how and where goods are stored."

The CAAB chief repeatedly declined to shoulder responsibility, saying any attribution of blame would be "premature" before the investigation reports are completed.

Siddiq admitted that although the airport's fire unit reached the scene within 30 seconds, the fire engines could not get closer to the source of the blaze because large volumes of uncleared cargo had congested access ways.

Goods that should have been cleared within the legally stipulated 21 days "often sit there for years", he said, which turned the warehouse surroundings into an obstacle course during the emergency.

He further noted that highly flammable materials worsened the blaze and that the courier section where the fire is believed to have originated was structurally "very strong", which prevented firefighters from breaking in initially.

When pressed about why it took 15 minutes for the Fire Service to be officially notified after the fire broke out at 2:15pm, Siddiq responded that he would "have to verify" who made the call and when, offering no further explanation.

The unused, state-of-the-art cargo terminal built under the third terminal project -- which could have replaced the burnt complex -- remains unopened due to an unresolved financial dispute between CAAB and the contractor.

The contractor is reportedly claiming several thousand crore taka in unpaid bills, while CAAB disputes the claim and accuses the company of inflating costs. A joint board has been formed, but no breakthrough has been achieved.

The impasse means Dhaka airport has no alternative cargo-handling facility in full operation, further crippling logistics after the fire.

Despite the scale of the disaster -- which forced the diversion of 15 flights, interrupted operations for nearly a day, and burned imported goods worth hundreds of crores of taka -- Siddiq insisted that Bangladesh's civil aviation rating under ICAO standards would not be affected.

"I do not think it will decrease," he said.

A visit to the site on Tuesday showed the cargo village sealed off by heavy police deployment, with barricades erected on all approach roads, particularly around Gate 8. Entry is restricted to officials and authorised personnel.

The building's charred façade has turned pitch-black, its once busy loading docks reduced to ash-covered debris. C&F staff, freight handlers and affected businesses waited anxiously outside the cordon, unsure when operations might resume. An employee of a freight forwarding firm, said they had fabric shipments worth thousands ready for delivery. "Everything is gone. Our clients are already calling, but what can we tell them?"

Several other staff members described heavy losses and uncertainty about their jobs, while business owners said insurance processing could take months.

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