A major fire broke out Saturday afternoon in the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), triggering a large-scale emergency response involving civil and military agencies—and leading to the temporary suspension of flight operations.The Fire Service received the initial alert at 2:30 pm and immediately dispatched five firefighting units to the scene. According to Fire Service Duty Officer Lima Khanam, four units arrived first, followed by 24 additional units, bringing the total response to 28 firefighting units now battling the blaze.Muhammad Kausar Mahmud, Assistant Director (Public Relations), of that Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, said the CAAB has temporarily suspended all flight operations from HSIA following the fire. In a statement issued Saturday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that the Bangladesh Navy has joined the operation, deploying personnel and equipment to assist in containing the fire in the airport’s cargo section. Earlier, ISPR had reported that the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority, Fire Service, and two fire units of the Bangladesh Air Force had already rushed to the site and begun joint firefighting efforts.

“Immediately after the incident, the airport’s fire section, Bangladesh Air Force fire unit, Bangladesh Navy, and other relevant agencies reached the spot and launched coordinated operations to bring the fire under control,” ISPR said.

While initial reports indicated that flight operations were unaffected, airport authorities later announced a temporary suspension of all departures and arrivals as a precautionary measure due to the intensity of the fire and safety protocols.

The cargo village—a key logistics hub that stores imported goods awaiting customs clearance—is situated within the secure perimeter of the country’s busiest international airport. The cause of the fire and the extent of damage remain unknown, with officials stating that a full assessment will follow once the situation is stabilised.

Authorities have urged the public to remain calm, stay informed, and avoid spreading unverified information. A detailed update is expected once firefighting operations conclude and safety inspections are completed.