A recent investigation into the fire incident at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s import cargo complex on October 18 has revealed that unsafe storage practices and a lack of fire protection systems were the primary causes of the destructive blaze. The report indicated two potential causes of the fire – overheating of lithium-ion batteries stored without proper temperature control and an electrical short circuit. Arson or sabotage was ruled out due to insufficient evidence.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the ground handler of the import cargo complex, conducted the investigation and submitted its findings to the civil aviation ministry on November 3. The fire originated inside the courier building, leased to and constructed by the International Air Express Association of Bangladesh (IAEAB), before spreading to the import cargo section.
The storage area, divided into small iron-grilled compartments filled with imported goods like laptops, computers, and mobile phones, lacked necessary controlled conditions for dangerous goods such as lithium-ion batteries. CCTV footage captured smoke rising at 2:15 pm, with the fire escalating rapidly by 2:21 pm.
Despite attempts to contain the fire, the lack of immediate activation of sprinklers and delayed alert to the national Fire Service and Civil Defence hindered firefighting efforts. The airport’s limited access to fire hydrants further complicated the situation, requiring firefighters to draw water from distant sources.
The report highlighted the need for clearer definitions of responsibilities regarding fire safety in lease agreements for the cargo complex. It also recommended the installation of automatic fire detection and suppression systems in all relevant buildings.
In addition, the report underscored the historical neglect of fire safety concerns at the airport, with warnings dating back over a decade. The article also mentioned discrepancies related to missing weapons from the airport’s vault and raised concerns about the delayed removal of uncleared cargo, contributing to congestion and hindering emergency response efforts.
Overall, the investigation shed light on various systemic issues and gaps in safety protocols that need to be addressed to prevent similar incidents in the future.