Staff Reporter :
An eight-member Turkish expert team has completed its probe into the recent fire at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and left Bangladesh after finishing its on-site assessment.
Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin told reporters on Thursday that the team is expected to submit its findings within the next two to three days.
He said the government is also finalising its own investigation report, which will be considered the primary one once released.
The devastating blaze erupted on 18 October at the airport’s import cargo complex, destroying large quantities of imported goods including raw materials for the garment and pharmaceutical sectors.
It took 37 firefighting units, aided by the army, navy, and air force, to bring the fire under control.
Industry leaders estimate losses of at least $1 billion, warning that supply disruptions may delay production in the RMG and pharma sectors for up to two months.
Authorities had earlier announced that fire-investigation experts from the UK, Australia, Turkey, and China were invited to assist in determining the cause of the incident.
Speaking in Dhanmondi, the commerce adviser said cargo clearance has resumed through alternative systems, and full operations at the airport cargo facility are expected to normalise soon.
The airport fire comes on the heels of two major factory blazes in Dhaka and Chattogram earlier this month, including one in the capital that claimed at least 16 lives.
