Key Highlights:
- Tragic Fire in Mirpur Shialbari, Dhaka.
- Fire at a garments factory and a chemical warehouse.
- Death toll rises to 9; several people still missing.
- 12 fire service units at the scene.
- Sent to National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
- Fire Service, BGB, Army, Police, and other law enforcement agencies.
- Fire spread through garment factory (4th floor) and chemical warehouse containing. bleaching powder, plastic, and hydrogen peroxide.
- Worker’s Wife heartbreaking last phone call with her trapped husband.
A massive fire broke out at a garment factory and chemical godown in the capital’s Mirpur’s Shialbari area this morning (October 14). So far, 9 people have died and many are still missing.
Running around in search of husband, tears in wife’s eyes
Nasima Begum was among the relatives of the missing, desperately searching for her husband Nazmul Islam. Nazmul, a resident of Kushtia district, worked on the second floor of the garment factory in Mirpur.
Nasima Begum said in a tearful voice,
‘বেলা সাড়ে ১১ টার দিকে আমার স্বামী আমারে ফোন করে কয় আগুন লাগছে। এরপর থেকে তার খোঁজ পাচ্ছি না। ঢাকা মেডিকেল কলেজ, সোহরাওয়ার্দী হাসপাতাল, ইবনে সিনা সবখানে খোঁজ করেছি, কোথাও পাইনি।’
Translation: “My husband called me around 11:30 a.m. and said there was a fire. I haven’t been able to find him since then. I searched everywhere, including Dhaka Medical College, Suhrawardy Hospital, and Ibn Sina Hospital, but I couldn’t find him anywhere.”
Rescue operation continues
Fire Service and Civil Defense Director (Operations and Maintenance) Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury said a total of 12 units are working to put out the fire at the scene. The seriously injured have been admitted to the National Burn Institute.
ডেটা-ড্রিভেন সিদ্ধান্ত কিভাবে ব্যবসাকে টেকসই করে তুলতে পারে? জানতে ক্লিক করুন
Situation at the scene
On the ground, members of the BGB, army, police and other law enforcement agencies were seen assisting in fire control and rescue operations. Hundreds of people have gathered at the scene, with smoke billowing and the sound of crying. Fire Service Media Cell Officer Talha Bin Jasim told The Business Standard (TBS),
‘দুটো প্রতিষ্ঠানে আগুন লেগেছে। এর মধ্যে একটি তৈরি পোশাক কারখানা, অন্যটি একটি রাসায়নিকের গুদাম। পোশাক কারখানাটি সাততলা। এর চারতলায় আগুন লেগেছে।’
Translation: “Two establishments caught fire. One is a ready-made garment factory, the other is a chemical warehouse. The garment factory is seven-story. The fire broke out on the fourth floor.”
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He said,
‘আমরা পোশাক কারখানার এই আগুন মোটামুটি নিভিয়ে ফেলেছি। তবে রাসায়নিকের গুদামের আগুন পুরোপুরি নিয়ন্ত্রণ করা যায়নি।’
Translation: “We have pretty much extinguished the fire at the garment factory. However, the fire at the chemical warehouse could not be completely controlled.”
Talha bin Jasim said,
‘রাসায়নিক কারখানায় ব্লিচিং পাউডার, প্লাস্টিক, হাইড্রোজেন পার অক্সাইড ছিল।’
Translation: “The chemical factory contained bleaching powder, plastic, and hydrogen peroxide.”
Chemicals fuel fire
The chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, which further fueled the fire and made it difficult for firefighters to bring it under control.
Current status
The fire brigade is still working to put out the fire. The exact cause of the fire is not known. Relatives continue to lament the search for the missing.
Source: TBS
