Bangladesh garment exporters fear $1bn losses after huge airport fire

The occurrence gutted import cargo terminals areas astatine Dhaka airport, destroying an estimated $1bn of ‘urgent aerial shipments’.

A occurrence that decimated a cargo analyzable successful Bangladesh’s largest airdrome has caused devastating losses to garment exporters during the highest export season.

The blaze – which ripped done the cargo import country of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport connected Saturday day – gutted retention areas holding immense quantities of earthy materials, apparel and merchandise samples belonging to exporters.

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“We person witnessed a devastating country inside,” said Faisal Samad, manager of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

“The full import conception has been reduced to ashes,” helium said, estimating losses could scope arsenic precocious arsenic $1bn.

Onlookers stitchery arsenic firefighters effort to extinguish the occurrence astatine Dhaka airdrome [Maruf Rahman/AFP]

Smoke continued to emergence from the charred remains of the installation connected Sunday arsenic firefighters and airdrome officials assessed the damage.

Among the destroyed goods are “urgent aerial shipments”, including garments, earthy materials, and merchandise samples, added Inamul Haq Khan, elder vice-president of BGMEA.

He warned that the nonaccomplishment of samples could jeopardise aboriginal concern successful the country’s important garment industry, worthy $47bn per year. “These samples are indispensable for securing caller buyers and expanding orders. Losing them means our members whitethorn miss retired connected aboriginal opportunities,” helium said.

Cause of blaze unclear

The airdrome cargo colony that caught occurrence is 1 of Bangladesh’s busiest logistics hubs, handling much than 600 metric tons of adust cargo regular – a fig that doubles during the October to December highest season.

“Every day, astir 200 to 250 factories nonstop their products by air,” Khan said. “Given that scale, the fiscal interaction is significant.”

The origin of the blaze has not yet been determined, and an probe is nether way.

Smoke engulfs the fire-damaged cargo terminal of Dhaka airport, October 19, 2025 [Munir Uz Zaman/AFP]

The incidental marks the 3rd large occurrence reported successful Bangladesh this week. A occurrence connected Tuesday astatine a garment mill and an adjacent chemic warehouse successful Dhaka killed astatine slightest 16 radical and injured others. On Thursday, different burned down a seven-storey garment mill gathering successful an export processing portion successful Chittagong.

The authorities said the information services were investigating each incidents “thoroughly”, and warned that “any credible grounds of sabotage oregon arson volition beryllium met with a swift and resolute response.”

“No enactment of criminality oregon provocation volition beryllium allowed to disrupt nationalist beingness oregon the governmental process,” it said, urging calm.

Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest exporter of apparel aft China. The sector, which supplies large planetary retailers specified arsenic Walmart, H&M and the Gap, employs astir 4 cardinal workers and generates much than a tenth of the country’s GDP.

The occurrence is expected to hold shipments and airs further challenges successful gathering planetary transportation deadlines.