BM Desk : Leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have estimated that the fire at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport may have caused damages exceeding Tk 1 billion (100 crore).

They stated that the incident has severely impacted the country’s export trade, particularly the ready-made garment (RMG) sector.

On Sunday (October 19), a BGMEA delegation led by Acting President Inamul Haque Khan visited the site of the fire at Shahjalal International Airport. After the visit, BGMEA leaders spoke to the media.

During a press briefing, Acting President Inamul Haque read a written statement, saying that garments, valuable raw materials, and important samples for new business ventures were destroyed in the fire.

“We are deeply concerned about this unfortunate incident. The amount of goods destroyed not only affects current exports but will also disrupt future business opportunities,” he said.

BGMEA has already begun assessing the extent of the damage. Members have been asked to submit lists of damaged goods using a prescribed form. To expedite data collection, an online portal has been launched.

Inamul Haque Khan further noted that 200 to 250 factories ship products by air daily, so the potential losses could be massive. Based on the collected data, BGMEA plans to hold a coordination meeting soon with the airport authorities, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Customs, and other relevant agencies.

“What we saw inside was horrifying. The entire import section has been burned down,” he said.
“Our estimate is that the damage may exceed Tk 1 billion (over 100 crore taka).”