Highlights
- 46 people died in the Bailey Road Tragedy incident in 2024
- Restaurant gate was locked to prevent customers from leaving without paying bills
- Victims were trapped due to blocked stairs and lack of ventilation
- CID has filed charges against 22 people after nearly two years of investigation
- Illegal structures and major safety failures worsened the Bailey Road Tragedy
According to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), when the fire started at a restaurant named Kacchi Bhai on Bailey Road, the main gate was locked. This was done to stop customers from leaving without paying their bills. As the fire quickly spread across the building, many people ran toward the rooftop to escape. However, they could not find shelter there because an illegal duplex restaurant had been built covering both the 8th floor and the roof.
Blocked Escape Routes Increased Death Toll
Many people tried desperately to come down using the stairs. But the stairways were blocked with gas cylinders and other materials from the restaurants, making escape almost impossible. These mismanagement issues created deadly traps. As a result, 46 people died in the fire at Green Cozy Cottage building on Bailey Road on the night of February 29, 2024. Among them, 3 people were burned to death and 43 died from suffocation caused by smoke.
CID Files Charges Against 22 People
A case was initially filed at Ramna Police Station, and later CID took over the investigation. After nearly two years, CID submitted a charge sheet to the court on Tuesday, accusing 22 individuals. Among the accused is Md. Ramjanul Haque Nihad, Managing Director of Amin Mohammad Foundation, the building owner. Others include several individuals connected to the building’s management and operations.
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Investigation Reveals Serious Safety Violations
The investigation found major safety failures throughout the building:
- No ventilation system was present
- The rooftop was illegally converted into a duplex restaurant
- The rooftop access gate was kept locked
- The building was approved for commercial use up to 5 floors, but was used up to 8 floors illegally
- None of the 10 restaurants had valid documents
- Flammable materials used in interior decoration helped the fire spread quickly
Because of these issues, people could not escape, leading to a high number of deaths.
Fire Started from Coffee Shop
According to CID sources, the fire started from a coffee shop named Chumuk on the ground floor. The source of the fire was an electric kettle. On that day, due to Leap Year (February 29), special discounts were offered at the Kacchi Bhai restaurant on the second floor. This led to a larger number of customers than usual.
When the Bailey Road Tragedy fire broke out, the restaurant manager, Jain Uddin Jisan, reportedly ordered the gate to be locked so that no one could leave without paying. This decision trapped many people inside, where most of the deaths occurred due to suffocation.
CID Statement on Responsibility
A CID official involved in the investigation said:
“দোকানের ব্যবস্থাপক জেইন উদ্দিন জিসানের নির্দেশে দোকানের ফটকে তালা দেওয়া হয়েছিল। তাঁর খামখেয়ালিপনার জন্য অনেকে মারা গেছেন। সে জন্য তাঁকে অভিযুক্ত করা হয়েছে।”
Translation: The restaurant gate was locked on the instruction of manager Jain Uddin Jisan. Many people died due to his reckless decision, which is why he has been accused.
Victim Demands Justice
Md. Faisal Karim, a businessman from Keraniganj, was trapped in the building during the incident while shopping. He was injured and received treatment for about a week at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
He said:
“যাঁদের গাফিলতির কারণে এত মানুষ মারা গেছেন, তাঁদের যেন দৃষ্টান্তমূলক শাস্তি হয়।”
Translation: Those whose negligence caused so many deaths should receive exemplary punishment.
The Bailey Road tragedy highlights serious negligence, illegal construction, and lack of safety measures. Locked exits, blocked stairways, and poor building management turned the fire into a deadly disaster. Authorities have now taken legal steps, but the incident remains a painful reminder of the importance of proper safety regulations.
Source: Prothom Alo
