Turkish expert team in Dhaka to assist probe into airport fire

An eight-member Turkish expert team has arrived in Dhaka to assist Bangladesh in investigating the recent fire incident at the Cargo Village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).

The delegation met Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin on Sunday at Bangladesh Secretariat, where both sides discussed technical and institutional aspects of the ongoing investigation into the October 18 blaze, said the ministry's press release here. 

At the meeting, the Turkish experts assured full cooperation and technical support to determine the cause of the fire and recommend measures to prevent future incidents.

The adviser expressed his sincere appreciation to the visiting team, noting that the collaboration would further strengthen Bangladesh-Turkey relations and play an important role in advancing the investigation process.

The assistance from Turkey reflects the growing partnership and mutual confidence between the two friendly nations, Sheikh Bashir said, adding that Bangladesh values Turkey's expertise in aviation safety and emergency response. The Turkish team was led by First Degree Chief Superintendent Oykun Ilgun, while Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Sen accompanied the delegation during the meeting.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, including Secretary Nasreen Jahan and Additional Secretary Dr. Humaira Sultana, were also present. Earlier, the government formed high-level committees to probe the HSIA fire, which broke out on October 18 at the airport's Cargo Village. 

The blaze was brought under control the same day through coordinated efforts of the Fire Service, airport authorities, and armed forces, with no casualties reported.The committee has been tasked with identifying the cause of the fire, assessing damages, determining responsibility, and recommending preventive measures.