Exporters demand safety measures, compensation after HSIA cargo zone fire

Leaders of the country’s export-oriented sectors have demanded stronger safety measures at the import cargo zone of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), holding the lack of adequate precautions responsible for the recent massive fire there.

They also urged the government to provide immediate compensation to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) whose imported raw materials were destroyed in the blaze.

The demands were made at a press conference held on Monday at a city hotel.

Speaking at the event, Mohammad Hatem, President of the Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB), said international apparel buyers have expressed serious concern over the incident.

Md Zakir Hossain, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI), said 32 pharmaceutical companies out of 305 have so far reported losses of around Tk 2.0 billion as their raw materials were burnt in the fire.

He added that the overall losses in the pharmaceutical sector would be much higher once the full assessment is completed.

Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) President Showkat Aziz Russell demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible for the incident.

Losses in the accessories sector have initially been assessed at around Tk 230 million, while the leather goods sector reported damages of about US$1 million, as companies continue to submit their loss reports, sector leaders said.

Exporters, however, estimated that the total losses from the fire — including both direct and indirect damages — could reach around US$1 billion.

munni_fe@yahoo.com