Three major fire incidents in Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram have raised serious concerns over Bangladesh’s safety standards and emergency preparedness, experts said.
The latest incident occurred at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, leading to the suspension of flight operations.
The fire broke out at the airport’s cargo village around 2:30 pm on Saturday near Gate No. 8, said Talha Bin Jashim, an official of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (Media Cell).
Thirty seven firefighting units are currently battling the blaze, with six additional units on their way. Members of the Bangladesh Army, Air Force, and two platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have also joined the efforts.
Flight operations at the airport have been suspended since the fire erupted, confirmed spokesperson Md Masudul Hasan Masud.
Earlier in the week, a devastating fire in the Shialbari area of the Rupnagar residential zone in Mirpur killed 16 people after a garment factory and an adjacent chemical warehouse caught fire on Tuesday.
CEPZ fire still raging; 23 units battling to bring blaze under control
While the factory blaze was brought under control after three hours, the nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn.
Meanwhile, in Chattogram, a fire at a factory in the Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) on Thursday took 17 hours and 25 firefighting units to bring under control.
Investigations into both the Chattogram and Dhaka incidents are underway, with committees formed by the Fire Service and local authorities.
Large fires are common in Bangladesh, often attributed to poor infrastructure and lax safety standards.
Past tragedies include a 2021 fire at a food and drink factory that killed at least 52 people, a 2019 fire that claimed 78 lives in Old Dhaka, and the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse near Dhaka, which killed more than 1,100 people.
Dhaka, the capital, has a long history of devastating fire incidents — each exposing deep-rooted failures in oversight and enforcement by the authorities.
These incidents point to a worrying pattern: the continued operation of high-risk industrial sites without proper oversight, enforcement, or safety protocols — often at the cost of human lives.
Flights diverted to Ctg, Kolkata after Fire at Shahjalal Airport
Parvez Karim Abbasi, Assistant Professor at East West University, said the responsibility lies with the city corporations and related agencies to carry out regular inspections for fire hazards.
He noted that coordination between the city corporations and other relevant bodies remains limited when it comes to identifying and reducing repeated fire incidents.
Smart city planning, he added, must also address this issue by ensuring that factories are separated from residential areas and that safe work practices are enforced in these factories.
“Hazardous, toxic, or flammable materials must be stored safely and regularly inspected by the responsible organisations. There should also be regular updates on the state of safety,” he said.
Although there are procedures in place on paper, in reality they are often not properly followed.
Arson and fire-related incidents continue to occur regularly, causing major losses of both property and life.
The main issue lies in the lack of proper implementation and coordination among all concerned organisations. It is also about raising public awareness and ensuring that businesses take responsibility by not cutting corners and by investing in proper safety measures.
Fire breaks out at Dhaka airport’s cargo section; 37 units battling blaze
Whether it is the Fire Service, RAJUK, or the city corporations, all relevant bodies must work together more effectively. They need to carry out regular inspections and strictly follow safety protocols.
Regarding the limitations of the Fire Service, Abbasi suggested increasing the number of fire personnel, improving their resources and facilities, and ensuring they are well equipped.
He also blamed traffic congestion, narrow roads, unplanned city layouts, and the lack of water hydrants along streets for delaying fire response times.
“The problem will not be solved overnight. We need to take an integrated approach to deal with it,” he added.
Meanwhile, the country witnessed 26,659 fire incidents last year, in which 140 people — including two firefighters — were killed and 341 others injured.
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD), an average of 73 fire incidents took place per day across the country in 2024.
“Most fires originated from electrical short circuits, burning cigarette or bidi ends, stoves, and gas leaks,” it said.
These fires caused damage to properties worth around Tk 447 crore, while the Fire Service saved properties valued at over Tk 1,974 crore across the country during the same period.
To strengthen fire prevention measures nationwide, the FSCD operated 147 mobile courts in 2024, and 149 organisations were fined a total of Tk 25.832 crore. Cases were filed against three organisations.
To reduce fire accidents, the FSCD conducted 18,983 drills, 3,036 surveys, and 15,683 public awareness events across the country in 2024.
Besides, 1,47,717 people were trained through 7,769 fire safety training courses nationwide. Of them, 1,56,840 garment workers received training through 3,921 courses conducted in garment factories alone.