The terrible fire that broke out in several markets of Bangabazar in the capital's Gulistan has finally come under control. The fire that started at 6:10 am on Tuesday was brought under control after 6 and a half hours at 12:35 pm.
Director General (DG) Brigadier General of Fire Service and Civil Defense Md. Main Uddin on Tuesday afternoon confirmed this information to the media.
He said, "Bangabazar fire came under control at 12:35 PM. It is hoped that the fire will not spread further. The situation has been brought under control. It will take more time to completely extinguish the fire.”
A total of 50 units of fire service and civil defense worked to bring the fire under control. For this reason, several units of fire service also joined from Narayanganj and Gazipur districts of the capital. Besides, a joint team of Army, Navy and Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh, RAB, Police and local people worked to control the fire.
Air force helicopters trie dto extinguish fire by gushing water since 9am.
All RAB battalions from Dhaka and 18 patrol teams from Narayanganj and six plainclothes teams assisted the fire service in controlling the fire, traffic management and law and order situation.
Meanwhile, a total of 13 people, including eight members of the fire service, got injured and fell ill while carrying out fire control duties in the capital's Bangabazar and are receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Dhaka Medical Police Inspector Bachchu Mia said that they are being treated in the emergency department.
Inspector Bachchu Mia said seven people are being treated at Dhaka Medical and one is being treated at Burn Institute. A person who came to the burn institute was sickened by the smoke.
The injured are: Rabiul Islam Antar (30), Atiqur Rahman Rajan (35) and Mehedi Hasan (28) have received treatment at the Burn Institute.
Besides, Niloy (35), Shaheen (40), Ripon (40), Rubel (32) and Dulal Mia (60) were treated at Dhaka Medical.
Duty Officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense Rakibul Islam confirmed to The Report.Live that a fire service member was injured while on duty.
Eyewitness traders said that the fire started from the warehouse area of Bangabazar, Gulistan. According to some of them, the fire spread quickly because Bangabazar was made of wood and tin.
Eyewitnesses said that immediately after the fire, many traders started to take out the goods of the shop and put them on the New Secretary road in front. The fire on one side and the goods being unloaded on the other caused piles of goods on the road ahead. After burning for an hour, a part of Bangabazar collapsed around at 7 am. A pile of clothes on the street caught fire. The fire also spread to Banga Islamia Market and Banga Homeo Market on the opposite side of New Secretary Road.
Eyewitnesses and market shopkeepers said that more than five thousand shops in Bangabazar, Adarsh Mahanagar Market, Islamia Market and Homeo Market were burnt to ashes.
