A sudden surge in fires across the country has raised alarm. Incidents at critical sites, including garment factories, airports, government offices, warehouses, and shopping complexes, have sparked public panic. The mysterious origins of several blazes have prompted questions: are these accidents, or is there orchestrated sabotage at play?
Experts suggest that neither accident nor sabotage can be ruled out at this stage. They stress the urgent need for thorough investigations to determine the true causes. Some allege that the interim Yunus government is deliberately undermining the nationโs economy through a calculated strategy.
On October 18, a major fire erupted at the Cargo Village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital. It took over six hours to bring it under control, leading to a temporary suspension of all flights at this key international hub. Goods worth crores of taka, including food, medical equipment, electronic components, and industrial raw materials, were destroyed in the blaze at the airportโs Import Village, which began shortly after noon.
Fire service units responded promptly, but experts note that the fireโs source and rapid spread suggest it was not a typical accident. The power supply was cut before the blaze, and unusual behaviour by security personnel has further fuelled suspicions.
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Recent weeks have seen relentless fires in Mirpur, Chittagong EPZ, Narayanganj, and now Shahjalal Airport. Given the strategic importance of these locations, some suspect a coordinated conspiracy against the state, potentially backed by the Yunus government, to destabilise Bangladeshโs economy and administration. These incidents are inflating commodity prices and sowing despair.
On Thursday, a devastating fire razed the seven-storey โAdams Cap and Textile Limitedโ factory in Chittagongโs CEPZ, reducing it to rubble.
On Tuesday, around 11:30am, a blaze at the Shah Alam Chemical Godown in Rupnagar Industrial Area, Dhaka, claimed 16 garment workersโ lives, with several others reportedly missing.
On October 13, seven workers were injured in a fire at a battery lead factory in Narsingdiโs Panchdona area, some critically, and are receiving treatment at the National Burn Institute.
Earlier, on September 22, five people, including four fire service members, died in a blaze at a chemical godown in Tongiโs Sahara Market.
Fires, both large and small, continue to plague key establishments and populated areas, raising concerns about whether these are mere accidents or part of a deliberate plot.
A case has been filed against Shah Alam, owner of a chemical warehouse, and its manager, following the deaths of 16 people in a fire at Shialbari, Mirpur, on Tuesday. The blaze, which began around 11:30am at Alam Traders, spread to a four-storey building housing Smart Printing and RN Fashion factories, where 16 bodies were later recovered. The accused have been absconding since the incident, with charges of negligent death filed by the victimโs family.
What The Experts Say
Syed Sultan Uddin Mahmud, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS), told the Bangla Tribune: โOnly intelligence agencies can definitively investigate sabotage. However, widespread negligence in chemical safety is evident, as these incidents demonstrate.โ
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He added: โWe cannot dismiss sabotage given the frequency of these fires. Our regard for human safety, particularly for workers and residents, is alarmingly low. Chemical safety systems are mismanaged, and regular inspections are inadequately enforced. Without legal reforms and accountability, such tragedies will persist.โ
Major (Retd) AKM Shakil Newaz, former director at the Fire Service and Civil Defence, told the Bangla Tribune: โNeither accident nor sabotage can be dismissed. Fires are occurring every few days in critical locations like EPZ, airports, and Mirpur. These sites should have advanced firefighting systems, yet theyโve proven ineffective. Why did fire teams fail to act swiftly?โ
He questioned the response of the airportโs nearby fire stations and suggested investigating potential disputes or financial motives, given the high-value goods involved.
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On Saturday evening, Commerce and Civil Aviation Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin visited the airport fire site, announcing the formation of a committee to investigate the cause and prioritise resuming flights. The interim government, in a statement from the Chief Advisorโs Press Wing, acknowledged public concern and confirmed that security agencies are thoroughly investigating each incident. It vowed โimmediate and firm actionโ if evidence of sabotage or arson is found, emphasising efforts to protect lives and property.
Questions Surrounding Yunusโ Silence
The governmentโs apparent silence amid these disasters is troubling. Administrative inaction, delayed investigations, and media-driven confusion fuel speculation. Political analysts suggest the Yunus government may be undermining national stability to portray Bangladesh as a failing state internationally. Is this inaction tacit support for the perpetrators?
Economic Sabotage
The airport fire directly threatens the import sector, jeopardising food, medicine, and garment industry supplies. This risks supply chain disruptions and artificial inflation, described by economists as a form of economic terrorism aimed at crippling the nation.
Analysts urge the nation to set aside political divisions and unite against this destructive force. โThis fire doesnโt just burn warehouses; it threatens the nationโs future,โ one commented. Bangladesh has overcome conspiracies before and must do so again through collective resistance.
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