India, Oct. 20 -- Bangladesh's garment exports can face a loss of up to USD 1 billion after a massive fire devastated the cargo complex in Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

According to reports, the blaze that occurred on Saturday gutted storage areas holding huge quantities of raw materials, apparel and product samples belonging to exporters.

The fire tragedy occurred at a time when the country's garment industry was gearing up for its crucial export season.

"We have witnessed a devastating scene inside," Faisal Samad, director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told Al Jazeera.

"The entire import section has been reduced to ashes," he said, estimating losses could reach as high a...