Spate of major fires sparks public fear of ‘sabotage’
Abu Jakir :
A series of major fire incidents in key installations across the country over the past five days has triggered widespread fear and speculation among the general people, with many expressing suspicion that the blazes may be acts of sabotage aimed at destabilising the country ahead of the upcoming national elections.
The latest and most alarming of these incidents occurred on Saturday afternoon at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, where a massive fire broke out at the Cargo Village near Gate No. 8, forcing the suspension of all flight operations.
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, 37 firefighting units, supported by members of the Bangladesh Army, Air Force, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), battled the blaze for hours. Two units of the Bangladesh Navy also joined the operation.
At least 25 Ansar personnel sustained injuries during the incident, officials confirmed.
This came just two days after a fire engulfed a factory inside the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ), which took 17 hours and 25 firefighting units to bring under control.
Earlier in the week, a deadly fire in the Shialbari area of Mirpur’s Rupnagar residential zone killed 16 people when a garment factory and an adjacent chemical warehouse caught fire.
These consecutive incidents — all at strategic or high-risk sites — have stirred public anxiety and intense debate on social media, where many users described them as “planned acts of sabotage” orchestrated by “fascist forces” intent on creating chaos before the parliamentary elections scheduled for February next year.
“Igniting fear through fire — that’s what this looks like,” one user wrote on Facebook, echoing the sentiment of many others who suspect a political motive behind the timing and nature of the incidents.
Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, speaking to The New Nation on Saturday, acknowledged the speculation, saying, “Many have speculated that there are some powers behind the one-after-another fire incidents in Bangladesh as sabotage.
But it has not been identified yet. We have called the intelligence agencies to investigate this.”
He added that the government has instructed all agencies, including intelligence units, to remain on high alert to prevent further incidents.
Several investigative committees have already been formed to probe the recent fires and determine whether foul play was involved.
However, the interim government in a statement said they are aware of public concern regarding some major fires in several locations across the country.
“Any credible evidence of sabotage or arson will be met with a swift and resolute response,” said the statement issued by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on the evening.
It said no act of criminality or provocation will be allowed to disrupt the public life and political process.
Experts, however, caution that while the public suspicion is understandable, there is still no concrete evidence to support claims of sabotage.
They point out that Bangladesh’s poor safety standards, unplanned urbanisation, and lack of enforcement have long made such disasters alarmingly common.
“Large fires in Bangladesh often stem from chronic safety failures rather than conspiracy,” said Parvez Karim Abbasi, Assistant Professor at East West University. “However, the clustering of these incidents in such a short span is unusual and must be thoroughly investigated.”
Abbasi added that the responsibility for fire prevention lies with city corporations and relevant regulatory bodies. “Coordination among agencies remains weak. Hazardous materials are often stored near residential areas, and inspections are irregular.
These systemic lapses leave room for both accidents and potential manipulation,” he said.
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, Bangladesh witnessed 26,659 fire incidents last year, resulting in 140 deaths and 341 injuries. Most fires were caused by electrical short circuits, gas leaks, or open flames from stoves and cigarettes.
Despite the alarming statistics, the recent spate of fires — especially in sensitive zones like airports, export processing zones, and urban residential areas — has generated an unprecedented level of public unease.
As authorities investigate possible causes, ordinary citizens remain gripped by uncertainty. For many, the coincidence of these fires so close to the election season has deepened suspicion and revived fears of political destabilisation through acts of sabotage.
“The government must reveal the truth quickly,” said a shopkeeper near the airport. “Whether it’s negligence or conspiracy — people deserve to know. Otherwise, the fear will only grow.