Imports through Dhaka airport resume after 24 hours

Import activities at Dhaka Airport resumed this evening after remaining suspended for over 24 hours due to a devastating fire that turned goods and other items into ashes at the import cargo village, causing huge losses to businesses.

A senior official of the Dhaka Customs House said they started clearing imported materials from 5:00pm today.

In a statement, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said the Civil Aviation Authority has designated a place—termed the GSE (ground support equipment) maintenance area—to store imported items.

Customs is conducting physical examinations of the goods, and items are being cleared through Gate 9, according to the statement.

"We have cleared a consignment of flowers," the customs official said.

Shakil Meraj, director of Cargo at Biman Bangladesh Airlines, said the fire did not affect exports.

The fire broke out around 2:15pm yesterday at the import cargo complex and was brought under control after seven hours.

Speaking with journalists today, Commerce and Civil Aviation Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said export and import activities will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.