October 18, 2025, fire at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, has shaken Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garment (RMG) Industry, raising concerns over declining buyer confidence and the severe pressures the industry faces.
Blaze Breaks out in Dhaka
The fire erupted at around midday in the airport’s cargo village near Gate 8, spreading to warehouses storing raw materials, finished garments and other imported goods. Around 37 firefighting units were working to put out the fire, with the army, navy and air force also joining the efforts.
Flight operations were suspended for six hours, delaying flights and halting operations at 9:06 p.m. local time. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism issued a statement promising:
Steps will be taken to identify the source of the fire and implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Heavy Hit to the RMG Sector
The cargo terminal is crucial in Bangladesh’s global supply chain of the textiles industry, handling goods from 200 to 250 garment factories every day. According to Kabir Ahmed, President of the International Air Express of Bangladesh, the overall impact, both direct and indirect, on imports and exports could exceed $1 billion.
Director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Faisal Samad, reported that the entire import section has been reduced to ashes. He also warned that even small losses could derail future businesses:
A burnt accessory worth only $2,000 might cost us a $20,000 business opportunity.
The fire has compounded existing pressures on the industry, with declining orders and rising costs in recent months, and buyers are already moving their market to other countries.
Mohammad Mofazzal Hosen Pabel, President of the Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association (BGBA), said:
Bangladesh’s apparel export industry is now under threat. Buyers no longer trust that future orders will be delivered on time, so they are shifting orders to other countries at higher prices.
Another, Shawkat Aziz Russell, President of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), resonated with such panic, saying that:
The world will think twice before placing orders in a country where even the international airport catches fire.
The fire has not only destroyed goods, but has caused a rumble in the RMG industry. With the Presidents of associations voicing real concerns as to the infrastructure of Bangladesh’s garment industry, the October blaze adds more fuel to the fire. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
