'Govt waives flight costs, HSIA fire unit acted in 30 sec'

The government will waive all charges for non-scheduled flights for the next three days, while Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) own fire unit reached the Cargo Village within 30 seconds of Saturday's devastating fire, Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said.

"Our airport's own firefighting team reached the spot within 30 seconds, as informed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman," the adviser told reporters after visiting the fire-ravaged Cargo Village on Sunday afternoon.

He dismissed allegations that the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) units were delayed in entering the airport premises but said any such claims would be taken into consideration during the post-incident review.

"The situation was handled swiftly and in coordination with all agencies," Sk Bashir said, adding that an investigation would identify any lapses and ensure lessons for future emergency responses. The adviser announced a package of immediate government measures, including the waiver of all airport-related costs and fees for non-scheduled flights for three days to help ease the backlog created by the temporary suspension of operations.

"We have also taken responsibility for passengers' meals, accommodation, and services to reduce inconvenience," he said, adding "Our priority is to maintain uninterrupted passenger welfare and restore full normalcy at the earliest."

Bashir said a total of 21 flights were diverted or cancelled following the fire, which erupted around 2:15 pm on Saturday in the import section of the Cargo Village.  "Thanks to the combined efforts of 36 units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the blaze was fully extinguished by 8:30 pm," he said.

The adviser confirmed that an inter-ministerial meeting had been convened on Sunday afternoon to assess the situation and determine the next steps, including damage evaluation, compensation mechanisms, and operational restoration. "At present, a comprehensive damage assessment is underway to determine the extent of losses," he said, "The evaluation covers both the financial value and the weight of damaged goods, along with a sector-wise analysis of the affected facilities."

He said the government had pledged to reopen airport operations by 9:00 pm on Saturday, and "we succeeded in doing so".

Expressing regret over passenger inconvenience, Sk Bashir said, "I sincerely apologize to all passengers who suffered difficulties because of the incident. We are managing several issues simultaneously, and while some minor disruptions may occur, we are working tirelessly to restore full stability."

He also informed that the authorities have set a 36-hour clearance target for incoming cargo and that the existing insurance framework will be taken into account while addressing compensation claims.