Firefighting Robot Rushes to Rescue as Blaze Rages at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport Cargo Complex

A remote-controlled firefighting robot equipped with advanced technology has been deployed by the Fire Service to combat the massive blaze at the import cargo complex of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

As the area near the fire was deemed too dangerous for direct human intervention, the robot was brought in to suppress the flames. It operates with a powerful fan and high-pressure water jets, helping to control the fire while clearing smoke and hot air, thus aiding the firefighters in their operations.

According to Masudul Hasan Masud, spokesperson for the Executive Director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, “After deploying the robot, the combined efforts of all teams have brought the fire largely under control.”

Earlier in the evening, Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters Media Officer Talha bin Jasim said, “The robot is one of the most modern firefighting tools in our possession. It enables rapid and safe control of fire, reducing the risk to human firefighters in hazardous zones.”

He added around 5:00 pm on Saturday that 37 firefighting units were working to extinguish the blaze at the airport’s cargo village. The cause of the fire and the extent of damage were still unknown at that time. “We have not received any reports of casualties,” he confirmed.

The Fire Service first received the alert at 2:34 pm, after which nine units rushed to the scene. More units later joined, bringing the total to 37. The fire reportedly broke out around 2:15 pm in the airport’s cargo area, leading to a temporary suspension of flight operations. Incoming flights to Dhaka were diverted to Chattogram and Sylhet.

As of filing this report, the fire had not been fully brought under control. The source of the blaze and the total damage remain uncertain. The airport’s airfield was ordered closed until 9:00 pm. The last eight flights were diverted to Chattogram, with no new diversions reported afterward.

According to cargo officials and members of C&F associations, imported pharmaceuticals, telecommunication equipment, readymade garments, and other valuable goods were destroyed in the fire. They also expressed concern over the severe disruption to cargo operations, saying it remains uncertain when services will resume.

Khairul Alam Bhuiyan Mithu, Vice President of the Dhaka Customs House C&F Association, told reporters, “The fire has caused losses exceeding several thousand crore taka. It is impossible to say how this damage will be recovered.”