The Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) today announced a six-point demand to the government in response to the fire incident at the Cargo Village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).
EAB President Mohammad Hatem announced the demand at a press conference at a hotel in the city.
The demands include prompt settlement of insurance claims for goods damaged in the fire, formation of a special government fund to compensate uninsured exporters, modernisation and expansion of the Cargo Village with improved security measures, establishment of a separate, air-conditioned warehouse for the pharmaceutical sector, construction of a chemical warehouse at a safe distance, and full automation of Cargo Village warehouse management using modern technology.
At the press conference, Hatem, who also heads the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), urged the government to take immediate measures to assess the losses caused by the fire incident alongside ensuring compensation, and strengthening safety protocols at the airport’s cargo handling facilities to prevent similar incidents in future.
“It is still difficult to accurately determine the total loss suffered by exporters. The direct loss is from the goods burnt in the fire, but this is not the only damage. The raw materials destroyed in the blaze will prevent the production of export-ready goods, which will lead to even greater losses,” he added.
“We are sending urgent messages to our members to determine the extent of the damage, but a full picture is yet to emerge. The actual scale of loss can only be known after a transparent and complete investigation,” he said.
He also called on the government to swiftly implement the EAB’s six-point demand after completing a full investigation and damage assessment.
The press conference was jointly organised by major sectoral organisations, including BKMEA, BGMEA, BTMA, BGPMEA, and associations representing the leather, pharmaceutical, jewelry, frozen food, plastic, silk, handicraft, and other export-oriented industries.
