Flight operations at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) were disrupted for nearly four hours on Sunday morning as dense fog sharply reduced visibility, preventing both take-offs and landings.

No flights were able to depart after 6:00 am local time as heavy fog blanketed the airport, while around six inbound flights were unable to land and remained airborne or were diverted due to the poor conditions.

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Executive Director Group Captain SM Ragib Samad said the airport was not officially closed, but operations were suspended due to safety concerns.

“From 6:00 am onwards, visibility dropped to zero. No aircraft could take off or land,” he said, adding that flight operations resumed at 9:52 am once conditions improved.

The first flight landed at 10:27 am as visibility gradually improved, Ragib added.

Airport sources indicate that several flights were holding in Dhaka's airspace, awaiting landing authorization, and were anticipated to land sequentially as conditions improved.

Dense winter fog frequently disrupts air traffic at Bangladesh’s main international gateway, HSIA, during early morning hours, leading to delays, diversions, and cancellations.