\nBusiness leaders in Bangladesh fear losses of more than $1bn (\u00a3750m) after a devastating fire broke out in the logistics section of the country\u2019s main airport on Saturday.
\nClothes and raw materials were among the goods destroyed, which could put some businesses at risk, according to the country\u2019s export associations.
\nThe cause of the fire – which took 27 hours to extinguish – is still being investigated. The blaze had forced the temporary suspension of flights and airport operations.
\nBangladesh is the word\u2019s second-largest exporter of clothes after China, supplying global retailers like H&M and Walmart.
\nBangladesh\u2019s garment sector generates around $40bn a year, accounting for over a tenth of its gross domestic product.
\nLocal media reports say around 35 people were injured while working to contain the blaze.
\nThe damaged airport cargo village is among the country\u2019s busiest logistics hubs, especially during the pre-Christmas rush. The centre stored fabrics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and other goods.
\nSome of the goods destroyed were \u201cessential\u201d samples for securing new buyers, which means affected businesses could lose out on future opportunities, Inamul Haq Khan, senior vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufactuers and Exporters Association, told reporters yesterday.
\nIn an email to the BBC, the International Air Express Association of Bangladesh also estimated damages of more than $1bn.
\nThe garments association has asked all its members to submit a list of damaged goods to determine the full extent of the losses.
\nSaturday\u2019s blaze was Bangladesh\u2019s third major fire within a week.
\nOn Tuesday, a deadly warehouse fire killed at least 16 people and injured many others. And on Thursday, another fire burned down a seven-story clothing factory in Chittagong.
\nWhile investigations into Saturday\u2019s airport fire are still underway, conspiracy theories have been circulating online, linking it to the two earlier incidents and claiming all three were \u201cpre-planned\u201d.
\nIn the past, the causes of such major incidents had been used by political parties to attack one another, with parties accusing opponents of exploiting the tragedies for political gain. Experts say the heightened speculation this time stems from a history of uninvestigated accusations, where no one was ever held accountable.
\nThe interim government of Bangladesh issued a statement on Saturday, saying it would take immediate and firm actions if \u201cany credible evidence of sabotage or arson is found\u201d.
\nLarge fires are frequent in densely-populated Bangladesh. These are often blamed on poor infrastructure and weak safety enforcement. Hundreds of people have been killed in fires in recent years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Business leaders in Bangladesh fear losses of more than $1bn (\u00a3750m) after a devastating fire broke out in the logistics section of the country\u2019s main airport on Saturday. Clothes and raw materials were among the goods destroyed, which could put some businesses at risk, according to the country\u2019s export associations. The cause of the fire […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":509791,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-509769","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n