The fire incident at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has raised serious concerns over the effectiveness of fire safety systems at one of the country's most crucial infrastructure hubs.

The fire broke out around 2:30pm on Saturday and burned for nearly 27 hours before it was fully extinguished at 4:55pm yesterday.

The blaze primarily affected the Customs House area in the cargo complex, exposing major lapses in the airport's fire protection systems.

Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director (Operations and Maintenance) of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, yesterday briefed the media on the challenges that made the operation unusually difficult.

Following the incident, questions have been raised about why it took so long to contain the fire in such a sensitive area and how it spread so rapidly through the entire import complex.

Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause or the extent of the damage.

Meanwhile, concerns about the country's disaster preparedness were discussed in an emergency meeting of the Inter-ministerial Disaster Management Coordination Committee.

Speaking to The Daily Star, a source present at the meeting quoted National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman as asking, "If we are so helpless in containing a fire in such a critical area, how will we handle multiple incidents at once?"

Despite the airport's firefighting team reaching the scene within three minutes of the fire breaking out, airport authorities told the meeting that they failed to contain it due to its intensity, the source said.

The fire began near Gate No-8 of the import cargo complex and quickly engulfed warehouses packed with imported chemicals, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and garments. Thirty-seven units from 13 fire stations, joined by the Air Force, Navy, Army, Civil Aviation Authority, Border Guard Bangladesh, and police, worked to control the blaze.

About seven hours after it started, the Fire Service announced around 9:18pm that the flames had been brought under control. Flight operations resumed soon after.

FIRE SERVICE'S LAMENT

Briefing reporters yesterday, Lt Col Tajul Islam said the absence of a fire detection or protection system made containment difficult. "If such systems had been in place, this incident might not have occurred."

He explained that the cargo section contained highly combustible materials in small, compartmentalised steel rooms with an "extremely high occupancy load", which, combined with hazardous goods and confined spaces, accelerated the spread.

Firefighters had to cut through steel partitions to gain access, and even after the flames were doused, residual heat from the metal complicated cooling efforts. Four units remained on-site as a precaution.

Despite the challenges, Tajul said the Fire Service's response was timely. "There were no delays or obstructions in reaching the scene."

An investigation committee has been formed to identify the cause of the fire and evaluate the airport's firefighting systems, including hydrant functionality and suppression mechanisms.

Tajul confirmed that while cracks appeared in some steel columns due to heat, the structure was not at immediate risk of collapse. He also said no significant air contamination was detected despite chemical reactions from burning pharmaceutical goods.

GOVERNMENT ACTION

The government has formed a 12-member core committee, led by the home ministry's senior secretary, to investigate the fire and recommend preventive measures.

Disaster Management Adviser Faruk E Azam (Bir Protik) announced the committee's formation after the emergency meeting held at the Cabinet Division, attended by senior aviation, security, and home officials.

Recalling the December 2024 Secretariat fire, Faruk said the committee would probe why safety measures decided after that incident were not implemented.

He added that they would seek explanations from relevant authorities, including the home secretary, whose committee was responsible for the Secretariat's fire safety, a meeting source told this correspondent.

The committee will also assess the effectiveness of fire safety systems at key installations, including the airport. Faruk said that while some systems existed, their failure to contain the blaze must be thoroughly investigated.

The Fire Service pointed out that although its internal team responded promptly, its resources were inadequate, prompting discussions on acquiring advanced firefighting technology, the source added.

Responding to a question after the meeting, Faruk said, "It's not that everything was absent -- some systems were there, but there were shortcomings. The Civil Aviation Authority had its own fire unit, but it might not have been sufficient."

He said the committee would also investigate possible delays in the Fire Service's response, citing traffic congestion and logistical obstacles.

Fire Service Director General Brig Gen Muhammad Jahed Kamal called for better access and coordination at key facilities like airports.

The committee will examine risks posed by courier services operating within cargo areas, which may worsen safety hazards.

Faruk stressed the need to strengthen national disaster response systems, saying, "We are committed to enhancing our disaster management capabilities."

The committee is expected to submit its report within three weeks, with a follow-up meeting on November 5 to review findings and decide further action.