Turkish experts join investigation into Shahjalal International Airport cargo blaze

Sheikh Bashir Uddin says the collaboration will strengthen bilateral ties and play a crucial role in advancing the investigation

An eight-member Turkish expert team has arrived in Dhaka to assist in investigating the fire at the import cargo village of Shahjalal International Airport.

On Sunday, the team met with Civil Aviation and Tourism Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin, according to a ministry media statement.

The delegation was led by First-Degree Chief Superintendent Oykun Ilgun, with Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Sen also present.

The ministry said the meeting involved a detailed discussion on the airport cargo blaze. The Turkish experts assured full technical and institutional support for the investigation.

Bashir said, “This collaboration will strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries and play an important role in advancing the investigation.”

The fire at Shahjalal airport’s Cargo Village broke out on Oct 18. Flight operations resumed after 9pm the same day, but it took 27 hours to fully extinguish the blaze. The Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) has estimated the damage at around Tk 12 billion.

Civil Aviation Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Saturday that experts from England, Australia, China, and Turkey would inspect the site to determine whether any mismanagement contributed to the fire and to assist in identifying its cause and accountability.