The devastating fire at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) has inflicted immediate losses of more than US$8.0 million on Bangladesh's textile and readymade garment industry.
Sector leaders fear the blaze, which destroyed imported raw materials and samples, could disrupt production cycles, delay shipments, and even lead to order cancellations.
The country's major trade bodies have been collecting data from affected members since the fire broke out at HSIA's cargo complex last Saturday.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) have all reported substantial damage.
When asked, BGMEA Senior Vice-President Inamul Haq Khan said the association had received 2,187 reports of losses worth around US$7.0 million as of Wednesday.
"A single factory can have multiple import entries, including finished product samples, fabric rolls, zippers, buttons, spare parts, and machinery," he explained.
"One entry alone included 70,000 unique buttons for sweaters that were destroyed in the fire. The factory will now have to re-import those items, delaying production by at least a month," he added, noting that the losses extend far beyond materials to disrupted production and shipment schedules.
Talking to the FE, BKMEA Executive President Fazlee Shamim Ehsan said 36 of its member factories reported direct losses of about US$250,000.
"The direct loss is the destruction of goods, but the consequential losses are much greater," he said. "Production and export schedules will be affected, leading to delayed shipments, costly airfreight, and potential discounts or cancellations from buyers."
BTMA reported that 48 member mills had suffered losses amounting to Tk 168 million (US$1.37 million) against 71 letters of credit as of Tuesday evening.
BGAPMEA President Md Shahriar told reporters on Monday that initial assessments showed the accessories sector alone suffered losses of around Tk 230 million.
Meanwhile, pharmaceutical sector leaders said around 45 leading drug manufacturers had reported losses, with key raw materials and machinery worth Tk 2.0 billion destroyed in the blaze.
They warned that the damage could severely disrupt the production of life-saving medicines, including antibiotics, cancer treatments, diabetes drugs, and vaccines.
"The destruction of critical inputs could have far-reaching consequences for medicine production and supply stability in the coming months," said one industry representative.
Trade body officials said the total loss figure is expected to rise once all affected members submit their assessments by early next week.
Munni_fe@yahoo.com