Sabotage or gross negligence?

When the cargo complex of Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) went up in flames last Saturday afternoon, the skies above Bangladesh's busiest gateway turned into a symbol of something far larger than a single accident. The orange glow rising over the capital was not just fire -- it was a flare of alarm over how vulnerable the country's infrastructure, safety protocols, and crisis management systems have become.

For six long hours, the nation's main air hub stood paralysed. Flights were diverted to Chattogram, Sylhet, and even Kolkata. International cargo worth billions of takas -- ranging from ready-made garments to electronics -- was reduced to ashes. Businessmen stood helpless, watching years of enterprises being lost to raging fire. The scenes were heartbreaking. And, finding answers to questions the fire has left behind may prove daunting.

Officials have described the inferno as the most devastating incident in the airport's history. The fire, which broke out around 2:15 p.m. at the cargo village, spread with terrifying speed. Thirty-seven fire service units fought the flames, joined by the Navy, Air Force, Border Guards Bangladesh, police, and Ansar. Despite this, it took hours to bring the blaze under control.

That it happened at the country's highest-security facility - one that handles sensitive goods and international freight - has fuelled suspicion. Bangladesh's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAB) and Biman Bangladesh Airlines, two entities responsible for ground handling, were quick to call it a probable accident, cautioning against speculation before investigations conclude. Yet for many, the timing and scale of the disaster are too difficult to ignore.

This was no isolated event. In the days preceding the airport fire, two major blazes had rattled the country - one at a chemical warehouse in Dhaka's Rupnagar and another at the Chittagong Export Processing Zone. Such coincidence is enough to stir public paranoia. On social media and in business circles, whispers of conspiracy are swirling: was this sabotage, or a symptom of gross negligence?

The truth may lie somewhere in between. Bangladesh's tragic familiarity with industrial fires - from garment factories to ferry terminals - points to a systemic malaise: lax enforcement of safety codes, obsolete equipment, and a culture of administrative complacency. Whether or not deliberate, the HSIA incident exposes the same frailties that have claimed countless lives and livelihoods in the past.

Even if investigators ultimately rule out arson, negligence itself is no less criminal. According to eyewitnesses, firefighting vehicles were stationed within the airport premises, yet the blaze grew uncontrollably. The cargo village is supposed to have modern fire suppression systems. Were they functional? Were alarms raised promptly? Was emergency coordination swift enough between agencies?

These are not technicalities - they are matters of accountability. Bangladesh has long relied on its image as a rising logistics and export hub. But that image collapses the moment foreign buyers see pictures of burned warehouses and diverted aircraft.

The financial losses from the HSIA fire could reach billions. Exporters fear contractual penalties and shipping delays. Insurers face claims that may take months to resolve. At a time when Bangladesh's economy is already strained by dollar shortages and declining foreign reserves, this disaster strikes at the very heart of its global trade engine.

Small businesses, clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents, and freight operators are among the worst hit. Their association has called the fire "pre-planned" and demanded an independent inquiry. While such claims may stem partly from desperation, they underline a painful truth: in a country where investigations often vanish into bureaucratic limbo, trust is in short supply.

The government has promised multiple investigations - by CAAB, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and intelligence agencies. Yet few Bangladeshis will take comfort in that. Past tragedies have seen committees formed with fanfare, only for reports to gather dust. The Rana Plaza collapse, the Chawkbazar chemical fires, the Sitakunda depot explosion - each yielded promises of reform that faded with time.

What Bangladesh needs now is not another report but a reckoning. A credible inquiry must not only identify immediate causes but also map the institutional rot that allowed this to happen. If the fire safety system failed, who was responsible for maintaining it? If negligence is proven, prosecutions must follow - regardless of rank or political affiliation.

On Sunday morning, hundreds of cargo workers stood outside the charred complex, staring in disbelief. Just days earlier they had been preparing consignments for export; now they were counting their losses. "We don't know who did this, but we've lost everything," one said. Their despair speaks for a wider workforce already battered by inflation and uncertainty.

Many of those injured were not bystanders but responders - thirty-five in all, including twenty-five Ansar members. Their bravery deserves recognition, but their suffering also demands that lessons be learned. Bangladesh's emergency services, underfunded and overstretched, cannot be expected to perform miracles amid structural neglect.

In moments like this, secrecy breeds suspicion. The government must communicate clearly and regularly about the progress of the investigation. Satellite imagery, CCTV footage, and maintenance records should be reviewed and, where possible, made public. Only transparency can prevent rumours from festering into political cynicism.

Independent experts - not only government officials - should be part of the probe. International fire-safety specialists or neutral observers from aviation bodies could lend credibility. If foul play is found, the public deserves to know not just that it happened, but how and why.

The HSIA blaze must become a turning point. Every critical infrastructure facility - airports, ports, power stations - needs an immediate safety audit. Fire drills should be mandatory. Cargo operators must be trained and certified. Advanced fire suppression systems, modern sensors, and real-time monitoring can no longer be luxuries; they are imperatives.

Bangladesh aspires to join the league of middle-income economies, but that ambition cannot rest on fragile foundations. An economy that burns too often cannot soar.

Ultimately, this tragedy is not just about flames and smoke - it is about trust. Trust in the state's ability to protect its citizens and assets. Trust that negligence will not be brushed aside as "an unfortunate incident." And trust that when the next crisis comes, the response will be faster, smarter, and honest.

The HSIA fire is a national wake-up call. Whether the cause proves accidental or malicious, the message is the same: Bangladesh must learn, reform, and rebuild. The ashes of the cargo village demand not silence but accountability.

Only a thorough, transparent, and independent inquiry - followed by real action - can restore faith in the nation's institutions and ensure that such a calamity never darkens its skies again.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com