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The death of 16 people in Dhaka factory fire blamed on illegal storage of chemicals
The fire, which broke out in a garment factory and spread to a chemical warehouse in the Mirpur neighbourhood, destroyed two buildings and killed 16 people. The authorities blame the lack of safety measures and certifications, while experts call for strict enforcement of regulations and the creation of a dedicated zone for chemical storage.
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Dhaka (AsiaNews) – A devastating fire in the Rupnagar area of Shialbari, Mirpur (Dhaka) killed at least 16 people yesterday, caused by the illegal storage of chemicals in a densely populated section of the Bangladeshi capital.
The blaze broke out around 12:45 pm in a four-story building housing a garment factory, Anwar Fashion, starting in the ground floor wash unit, this according to witnesses, quickly spreading to a nearby chemical warehouse, a structure with a sheet metal roof. Fuelled by flammable substances, the fire spread within minutes, destroying both buildings.
The Fire Service and Civil Defense rushed to the scene, but the presence of toxic substances made their work extremely difficult.
The flames in the garment factory were eventually extinguished after three hours, but the fire in the chemical warehouse continued to burn until late into the night.
Fire Service Director Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury confirmed the recovery of 16 charred bodies.
“We suspect toxic gas released during the explosion caused instant deaths. Many victims may have been trapped and unable to escape,” he explained.
The exact cause will be determined by an official investigation, but initial reports indicate that neither the factory nor the warehouse had fire safety certifications.
According to Brigadier General Muhammad Zahed Kamal, Director General of the Fire Service, it could take days to fully extinguish the fire in the warehouse.
A team from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) will inspect the site to determine the next steps.
“There was an explosion in the chemical warehouse, and then everything was on fire," one survivor said.
Some workers managed to escape, but many are believed to be trapped inside.
The authorities have not yet released the exact number of people present at the time of the fire.
Dozens of people gathered, with pictures of their missing loved ones in the hope of finding them.
Abu Naeem Mohammad Shahidullah, a former Director General of the Fire Service, called the accident "unimaginable," comparing it to the 2010 Nimtoli and 2019 Churihatta tragedies, both caused by the illegal storage of chemicals in residential areas.
“We didn’t learn from those disasters," Shahidullah said, reiterating the need to create a dedicated zone for hazardous warehouses.
“Chemicals are essential for the economy, but storing them unsafely in residential areas is a death trap,” he lamented. “Laws exist, designated areas have been created, but without implementation, the risk remains. Anyone storing chemicals beyond the legal limit must face punishment.”
The tragedy has reignited calls for stricter regulations and effective controls.
As families mourn their loved ones, the country is once again forced to reckon with the price of negligence and lack of safety in the capital's industrial zones.
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21/02/2019 09:34
21/08/2019 17:14
