The fire that gutted the cargo complex at Dhaka Airport likely originated in the import courier area, said Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq yesterday.

"The incident is being investigated by several teams to determine the exact cause," he said at a press briefing at the CAAB headquarters in Kurmitola.

He said the fire spread rapidly due to the large volume of stored goods but was contained before it could damage aircraft or the main terminal. The airport's fire response team acted within 30 seconds, and the Fire Service and Navy soon joined the operation.

Mostafa warned against spreading rumours about the incident, saying, "The intensity of the fire was high because of the presence of flammable materials. That is why it could not be brought under control in the initial stage."

Answering another question, he said, "No firefighting vehicle was obstructed from entering. Neither the fire service nor any other agency has claimed that their vehicles were delayed in reaching the site."

The CAAB chief acknowledged that while airports have firefighting capabilities, they need to be strengthened.

Asked about piles of goods that reportedly blocked access to fire trucks, he said, "The goods stacked on the runway apron belonged to Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Dhaka Customs House, and C&F agents. These are supposed to be cleared within 21 days, but they often remain for years."

He declined to blame any particular agency before the investigation is complete.

The CAAB chairman also said the Cargo Village building is owned by CAAB, but its operations are run by Biman, Dhaka Customs House, and C&F agents.

He also denied reports which claimed 19 letters had been sent earlier seeking fire safety improvements.

Meanwhile, the newly built cargo facility at the airport's third terminal cannot yet be taken over due to unresolved financial issues, said Mostafa.

He explained there is a gap of around Tk 1,000 crore between the contractor's claim and CAAB's estimate.

Following the fire that gutted the existing Cargo Village, CAAB wrote to the contractor, requesting use of the newly built cargo facility at the third terminal.

After the fire, CAAB requested temporary use of the new cargo building, but the contractor refused, demanding payment of outstanding bills.

"To launch the new cargo shed, some contractual and financial issues must be resolved. Discussions are ongoing," he added.