In an unprecedented move, a six-member Turkish investigative team arrived in Dhaka on 26 October to assist in probing the massive fire that engulfed the main cargo terminal of Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport (HSIA) on 18 October. The blaze, which destroyed critical infrastructure and valuable cargo, prompted the Bangladesh government to invite investigators from four countries—China, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Australia—to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the possibility of sabotage. Investigators from the UK, China and Australia are expected to join the probe soon, expanding the scope of the international inquiry.
The Turkish delegation, a mix of special police and disaster-management experts, is led by Fourth Degree Chief Superintendent of Police Necdet Serkan Bayir, accompanied by Mehmet Emin Kocan, Director of Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, and fire-fighting specialists Selcuk Yilma, Gurkan Ozcan and Ahmet Tayfun Oksin. The team has lodged at Dhaka’s Inter-Continental Hotel and is expected to work closely with Bangladeshi authorities over the coming weeks.
The fire caused widespread destruction, including 18 tons of high-value equipment destined for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Pabna, as well as communications equipment and other imported cargo. Preliminary eyewitness reports indicate that airport fire tenders were delayed for 25 to 30 minutes before accessing the affected zone, raising questions about emergency response and operational protocols.
In a formal press briefing, CAAB Chairman Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq stated:
“We have so far seen that the fire appears to have started in the import courier section, but the incident is under investigation by several teams who will determine the exact cause.”
He also addressed reports of delayed fire response:
“No fire-fighting vehicle was obstructed from entering. Neither the Fire Service nor any other agency has claimed that their vehicles were delayed in entering the site.”
Siddiq emphasised the airport’s own preparedness:
“As soon as the fire broke out, the airport’s own fire unit reached the scene within 30 seconds… Within ten minutes, three fire vehicles from the Air Force arrived, and within 20 minutes two more from another base.”
Home Ministry Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury confirmed that investigators from all four invited countries would examine potential lapses by airport security staff or the fire-fighting department, ensuring full transparency in the probe.
The economic impact of the fire has been severe. Bangladesh’s readymade garments industry, one of the country’s primary export sectors, suffered significant losses. BGMEA estimates that losses to garment-related imports alone could approach US$1 billion, potentially disrupting the country’s garment export trade. The financial impact on nuclear infrastructure remains undisclosed, with neither local investigative agencies nor Russia’s ROSATOM providing figures on the loss of equipment for the Rooppur plant.
The rapid deployment of Turkish experts underscores the deepening security and strategic ties between Bangladesh and Türkiye. Unlike diplomatic gestures alone, Türkiye’s immediate action demonstrates practical support during crises of national significance. Analysts note that this level of bilateral cooperation in sensitive areas, such as disaster response and nuclear-related infrastructure, reflects growing trust and shared interests in regional security and industrial resilience.
While investigations continue, the presence of foreign experts—particularly from Türkiye, and soon the UK, China and Australia—sends a clear signal of Bangladesh’s commitment to leveraging international partnerships to ensure accountability, technical insight, and the highest operational standards in managing critical national infrastructure.
The Dhaka cargo terminal fire is not only a test of domestic crisis management but also a marker of Bangladesh’s expanding strategic engagement with like-minded international partners. How effectively the insights from these investigations are incorporated into future operational protocols will be closely watched by both domestic and foreign stakeholders.
