Fire at Dhaka international airport impacts operations

20 October 2025

A significant fire broke out at the Import Cargo Complex of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), Dhaka, on Saturday (18 October 2025) afternoon. The incident caused extensive damage to stored goods, including fabrics, garment accessories, machinery, and chemicals, and resulted in a temporary suspension of all flight operations.

While airport operations have since resumed as of 2100h on Saturday night, the disruption has created immediate and ongoing challenges for logistics and supply chain activities.

Customs and terminal delays: Although flights are operating, the damage to the import cargo complex and the ongoing investigation are causing substantial backlogs. Delays in customs clearance, storage, and cargo release are expected over the coming days.

Operational backlog: Clearing the accumulated cargo backlog will require additional time. We anticipate continued congestion at the terminal and possible delays in delivery schedules.

If you require further information or assistance regarding your shipments, please contact your Toll Global Forwarding representative.

*All timings indicated are local times

Milan Samath
Vice President Bangladesh
Toll Global Forwarding

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