Operations at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport resumed after around six hours, but both domestic and international flights were affected. According to Reuters, these included an Air Arabia flight from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, which had to be redirected to Chittagong, about 250 km (155 miles) southeast of Dhaka. Meanwhile, an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Dhaka had to be diverted to Kolkata. And a Cathay Pacific flight was reported circling in the skies above Dhaka as 36 firefighting units fought to get the airport blaze under control, with the help of all three branches of the military.

Massive fire at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Cargo Village on Oct 19 could cause nearly $1 billion in export losses.

The blaze hit during the peak garment export season, dealing a heavy blow to Bangladesh’s economy. pic.twitter.com/JUuCXEtWqV

— ARIKA (@nidhisj2001) October 21, 2025

But the loss estimates are not only the result of interruptions to commercial passenger flights. The fire took place in the airport’s cargo village, where chemicals, fabrics, and pharmaceuticals are kept, as well as other items. As the world’s second biggest garment exporter after China, Bangladesh now faces direct and indirect damage worth over $1 billion (over €861 million), the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association told the press – figures confirmed in an email to the BBC by the International Air Express Association of Bangladesh.

No explanation has yet been put forward as to how the fire started, fuelling online speculation that the outbreak was deliberately started and is linked to other recent fires in the South Asian nation – conspiracy theories similar to those used for political gain in the past, when opponents have often blamed each other for catastrophes and investigations have gone cold.

To combat the rumour mill effect of such failures of justice, the country’s interim government said on Saturday it would act to bring perpetrators to justice if “any credible evidence of sabotage or arson is found.”

But such fires are not infrequent in Bangladesh, a territory whose apparel and export industry serves international giants like Walmart and is worth around $40 billion (€34.5 billion) a year, according to the BBC, more than 10% of GDP, yet is often associated with substandard facilities. Combined with dense living quarters and poor regulatory oversight, it’s a recipe for disaster that can kill hundreds every year. The Khaleej Times has reported that over 26,000 fires took place in 2024 alone.

L’article Bangladesh airport fire could cost over $1 billion in losses est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

In 2021, under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the clause was removed to align Bangladeshi passports with international standards. The move sparked controversy, with many citizens viewing it as a departure from Bangladesh’s longstanding support for Palestine. The 2021 decision was seen as an attempt to modernize passport protocols but drew criticism for appearing to soften the country’s stance on Israel, especially amid ongoing tensions in the Israel-Palestine conflict. The officials at the time stated that their stance on Israel remained unchanged. Public protests and calls from political and religious groups intensified pressure on the interim government to restore the restriction.

Although Bangladesh does not recognize Israel, Hasina’s government — removed from power in August after widespread protests — was accused of using Israeli spyware to surveil political opponents.

This change arrived only one day after Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, witnessed its biggest pro-Palestinian rally on 12 April. The rally received support from former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and various right-wing Islamic groups and parties. The primary demonstration took place at Suhrawardy Udyan in central Dhaka, close to Dhaka University. The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported that the death toll of Gaza Palestinians killed by Israel since October 2023 was more than 50,000.

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The new order was approved by Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the adviser for home affairs, on April 14, 2025. It has been met with approval locally and internationally. The reinstated ban prohibits Bangladeshi citizens from traveling to Israel, with strict enforcement measures in place. Former Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, speaking to Al Jazeera, emphasized that legal action would be taken against violators.

This policy shift occurs against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions and global debates over the Israel-Palestine conflict. Bangladesh has historically supported Palestine, reflecting the sentiments of its population. The travel ban aligns with similar restrictions in other Muslim-majority countries like Pakistan, Iraq, and Iran, which also prohibit travel to Israel due to political and ideological reasons.

L’article Bangladesh reinstates passport clause barring travel to Israel est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.