In Dhaka, a massive fire tore through a six-storey building late on Thursday, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 43 individuals and leaving many others injured, as confirmed by the country’s health minister.
The fire began in a restaurant before swiftly spreading to other levels, according to fire service officials.
Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen revealed that 43 people lost their lives in the blaze, while 22 individuals are currently receiving treatment at hospitals for burn injuries.
All 22 burn victims are reported to be in critical condition, Sen stated.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, although it was brought under control following two hours of extensive efforts by 13 firefighting units, as per the fire service officials.
One survivor, Mohammad Altaf, shared his harrowing experience of narrowly escaping the fire through a broken window, while sadly losing two coworkers in the process.
“When the fire started in the front and broke the glass, our cashier and servicemen made got everyone out. But both of them died later. I went to the kitchen, broke a window and jumped to save myself,” Altaf recounted.
Firefighters utilized a crane to rescue individuals from the charred building, officials stated.
Brigadier General Main Uddin of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence suggested that the fire may have originated from a gas leak or stove.
He remarked, “It was a dangerous building with gas cylinders on every floor, even on the staircases.”
Stringent monitoring of Bangladesh and major international clothing brands manufacturing in the country has contributed to averting further tragedies in the garment industry since the devastating incidents in 2012 and 2013 that claimed over 1,200 lives.
However, in other sectors, particularly those catering to Bangladesh’s flourishing domestic market and lacking equivalent safety protocols, numerous fire-related fatalities have occurred in recent years.
Frequent fires plague the densely populated Dhaka, where rapid urbanization has led to an influx of new buildings often constructed without adequate safety precautions. Faulty gas cylinders, air conditioning units, and poor electrical wiring have led to fires and explosions in the city.
Reported by Ruma Paul in Dhaka and Maria Ponnezhath in Bengaluru; Edited by Leslie Adler, Nia Williams, and Jamie Freed
