How questionable leases, ignored safety caused Dhaka Airport fire – not the first time
In 2011, Biman alerted CAAB of a major fire risk at the cargo village due to inadequate firefighting systems, but the warning was ignored
Highlights:
- The same cargo village office that burned in 2013 caught fire again in 2024
- Courier offices operated for years under questionable lease agreements between CAAB and IAEAB
- IAEAB issued security passes without CAAB approval, violating international aviation safety rules
- CAAB ignored Biman's 2011 warnings to install proper fire safety systems
- IAEAB failed to pay Tk9.33 crore in dues while overcharging courier companies
- No agency has accepted responsibility for managing or securing the fire-damaged sheds
This is not the first fire in the cargo village of Dhaka airport. Over a decade ago, in 2013, another fire originated from the same import courier office, which is believed to have been the source of the recent 18 October massive blaze.
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What's shocking is that the courier office had been operating for years with a questionable lease from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), according to findings of an inquiry committee formed after the latest fire.
A private organisation, the International Air Express Association of Bangladesh (IAEAB), leased space in the cargo village from CAAB and sub-leased it to various courier offices. It also issued security passes to all staff of the courier offices, including low-level employees such as peons, without CAAB approval.
This not only violates International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules but also exposes the airport to potential security risks.
The recent fire exposed gaps in safety management and issues in leasing airport properties to private operators, damaging the country's reputation.
CAAB owns the cargo village, but Biman Bangladesh Airlines and other authorities run it.
In 2011, Biman alerted CAAB about insufficient fire safety measures in the cargo village. Following this, CAAB formed a survey committee, which recommended detailed plans for installing fire-fighting equipment, including both temporary and permanent solutions.
"The fire started in a courier office, but it was unclear who controlled it. While CAAB owns the building, management and operations are handled by the airline, Customs, and the courier service."
However, CAAB did not implement the recommendations, resulting in a second fire incident in the country's main airport.
From the inquiry committee report following the latest fire, TBS learned that the IAEAB has been operating courier offices in the cargo village under a leased space since the building's construction in 1982-1983.
Soon after the building's construction, CAAB handed over the cargo building to Biman for operation. According to the inquiry committee findings, Biman leased the space to IAEAB in violation of lease rules, and IAEAB sub-leased it to individual courier companies.
In 2013, a fire broke out in a sub-leased courier office under IAEAB, damaging the building. The incident exposed irregular lease and sub-lease practices, though Biman did not assume responsibility. Later, CAAB took control of the cargo village building and the surrounding open space.
Under CAAB management, IAEAB again resumed operations in 2014 by taking a lease from the airport authority. The organisation built a temporary tin shed in the open space to replace the damaged building, without written approval from CAAB.
The total courier unit comprises 12,455.25 sq ft inside the building and a 9,150 sq ft tin shed in the open area. Soon after obtaining the lease, IAEAB issued security passes to its member courier services without CAAB approval, which goes against ICAO rules.
A total of 62 courier companies were operating under IAEAB, according to inquiry findings.
Moreover, IAEAB stopped paying lease fees to CAAB between 2019 and 2023, accruing government dues of Tk9.33 crore. Despite this, courier companies under IAEAB continued operations. Meanwhile, IAEAB was collecting more than double the lease fees set by CAAB from its member courier services.
Courier companies are required to submit lease allotment papers to Customs for licensing. Instead, many submitted papers issued by IAEAB, which Customs did not accept. Customs later issued a notice warning that operations would be suspended if companies failed to provide CAAB-issued lease documents.
Following the notice, IAEAB approached CAAB in 2023 to resolve the issue and pay dues. After the payment, CAAB renewed the lease contract, allowing IAEAB to continue operations in the unapproved tin-shed, which lacked proper fire safety management.
On 3 September 2024, CAAB held a meeting with IAEAB to discuss further renewals. A committee was formed to assess lease fees and guidelines, and it concluded that it was not legal for IAEAB to hold the lease.
Additionally, FedEx and MGX.com submitted written complaints to CAAB, alleging that IAEAB had been charging courier companies more than double the authorised fees and questioning the legality of the lease. Following the committee's recommendations, CAAB began leasing space directly to courier companies instead of IAEAB.
Rafiqul Islam, general secretary of IAEAB, said the tin-shed was built at their own cost and sub-leased to courier companies. But CAAB began leasing space directly to courier companies after June 2024, without cancelling IAEAB's previous contract. "We are in discussion with CAAB in this regard," he said.
When contacted, a senior official from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the ministry had no information on lease properties. He added that CAAB has full authority to lease airport property and does not need to report to the ministry.
CAAB said the fire originated in a courier shed within the cargo village and burned for 26 hours. Businesses estimate losses at around Tk12,000 crore.
No agency, including Biman, CAAB, or Customs, has taken responsibility for managing the shed. CAAB Chairman Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq told TBS: "The fire started in a courier office, but it was unclear who controlled it. While CAAB owns the building, management and operations are handled by the airline, Customs, and the courier service."
Attempts to reach the Biman MD, Md Shafiqur Rahman, for comment were unsuccessful.
How CAAB ignored fire safety concerns raised by Biman
In 2011, Biman Bangladesh Airlines wrote to CAAB, warning that the cargo village lacked a permanent fire extinguishing system, posing a risk of major accidents. The letter called for the rapid installation of fire hydrants.
Following the letter, CAAB formed a five-member survey committee, including Biman officials, on 18 October 2011. The committee was tasked with determining the number of portable fire extinguishers for each zone, designing fire hydrant placement, and identifying safe assembly points outside buildings.
The committee recommended a detailed plan to set up fire-fighting systems in both import and export cargo villages. The plan was never fully implemented.
For example, it suggested 15 fire hydrants in the import cargo village and nine in the export area. However, the recent fire revealed only two hydrant points exist at the entire airport, with none in the cargo village. Biman later installed three hydrants in its own hangar.
CAAB Chairman Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq said, "We were operating under ICAO standards, which can be verified. Firefighting vehicles reached the site within 30 seconds of detection."
He admitted, however, that the affected shed lacked sprinklers at the front and rear. "Most older airports in Bangladesh were not designed with modern fire systems. Nonetheless, we met the approved minimum ICAO standards," he said.
