In an unprecedented move, a six-member team of Turkish investigators, comprising special police and disaster management experts, began a probe on Monday into the October 18 fire at the main cargo terminal of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport. The incident, one of the most serious in recent years, has raised suspicions of sabotage and prompted a multinational investigation.

The Bangladesh government had earlier granted permission to experts from China, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Australia to jointly investigate the cause of the blaze and determine whether deliberate foul play was involved. Officials said the collaboration marks a rare international probe into a domestic disaster in Bangladesh’s aviation sector.

High-value cargo destroyed in the fire

According to administrative sources, around 18 tons of high-value equipment — including crucial components for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Pabna, as well as communications gadgets and imported cargo — were destroyed in the inferno. Reports also suggest that airport fire tenders were prevented from entering the affected zone for 25 to 30 minutes after the fire erupted, further worsening the damage.

The Turkish delegation, which arrived in Dhaka on October 26 and is staying at the InterContinental Hotel, includes Fourth Degree Chief Superintendent of Police Necdet Serkan Bayir, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency Director Mehmet Emin Kocan and Firefighting experts Selcuk Yilma, Gurkan Ozcan, and Ahmet Tayfun Oksin.

Their mission is to assess the cause, scale, and response to the blaze, working in coordination with Bangladeshi officials and representatives from the other participating countries.

According to Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Bangladesh Home Ministry, the multinational probe teams will closely examine security lapses, fire-prevention systems, and response mechanisms at the airport. The investigation will also review standard operating procedures followed during cargo handling and emergency operations.

Massive losses to garment and nuclear sectors

The fire’s fallout has severely affected Bangladesh’s readymade garments (RMG) industry, the country’s largest export sector. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has estimated that garment-related import losses could amount to $1 billion, posing a serious challenge to the nation’s export-driven economy.

Meanwhile, the government has maintained strict confidentiality regarding the financial losses from the destruction of the 18 tons of specialized equipment imported for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project. Officials say the impact could be significant, as the project is one of Bangladesh’s most ambitious infrastructure undertakings.

The Turkish team’s investigation is expected to continue over the coming days, with findings to be shared with the Bangladesh Home Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority. The multinational inquiry aims to uncover the exact cause of the fire, assess potential negligence or sabotage, and recommend preventive measures to avert such disasters in the future.

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