Investigators have described the fire incident in the cargo area of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport as "suspicious," saying they have already identified several inconsistencies in the initial findings. As part of the ongoing investigation, five employees of courier company DHL have been questioned since Saturday morning, according to sources linked to airport-based agencies.
The fire incident occurred on Friday night at around 11:30pm inside a sensitive section of the airport's cargo village.
Officials involved in the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said multiple irregularities have raised concerns about how the fire originated and spread.
This comes months after a major fire on 18 October 2025 in the same cargo zone, which required 37 firefighting units from 13 stations, along with support from the army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), to bring it under control. That incident caused damage worth hundreds of crores of Taka.
According to investigators, preliminary analysis suggests that both incidents might have originated from a DHL-operated shed, raising further questions about recurring fire events in the same location.
They also pointed to CCTV coverage gaps near the affected area.
Officials said, the fire started in a section outside camera surveillance, close to an electrical pillar with exposed wiring beneath it.
However, investigators noted that if a short circuit had occurred, there should have been visible sparks and a power disruption-neither of which was observed.
They further questioned the presence of cigarette remnants found near the site, even though smoking is strictly prohibited in the cargo zone.
Officials said a cigarette-related fire would typically develop slowly with visible smoke, but in this case the fire reportedly erupted suddenly and intensified rapidly.
CCTV footage reportedly shows a DHL employee near the scene at the time of the incident. Investigators said the individual was resting inside a makeshift setup and remained calm for nearly two minutes after the fire started before alerting others.
These factors collectively raise serious questions about whether the fire was accidental or deliberate. "The situation appears unusual, and multiple angles are being examined," said one investigator.
Officials noted that the cargo contained fabrics, paper goods, rubber items, and plastic materials that were scheduled for auction on Sunday, adding another layer of complexity to the investigation.
Due to repeated incidents in the same shed, concerns are growing about security lapses or possible intentional activity.
Investigators are questioning several DHL staff members and cross-checking their statements with on-site evidence.
Fire Service Media Officer Talha Bin Jasim said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. "We cannot confirm the origin at this stage. A full investigation is ongoing," he said.
