More time needed to completely douse the New Market fire: DG of Fire Service and Civil Defense

Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defense Directorate Brig General, Md. Main Uddin said that although the fire on the third floor of the New Super Market in the New Market area of the capital has been brought under control, it will take time to completely extinguish the fire.

The Director General gave this information to the journalists in a briefing in front of Gate number 4 of New Market at around 10:30 am on Saturday.

He said, "Now the work of fire extinguishing and dumping is going on. Even though the fire was brought under control at 9:10 am, we did not make an announcement earlier for the sake of safety. The cause and origin of the fire has not been determined yet. It will be known after the investigation." He also said that utmost importance is being given to rescue the goods of the shopkeepers.

Directorate of Fire Service and Civil Defense received information about the fire at New Super Market around 5:40 am on Saturday morning. Being nearby, a unit of fire service reached there within three minutes and started working to control the fire. As time progressed, the fire spread throughout the market. The fire service continues to increase the number of fire fighting units. Officer-in-Charge (OC-Media) of Fire Service and Civil Defense Directorate, Shahjahan Sikder said that later the number of units was increased to 32. Although the fire has been brought under control, no casualties have been reported so far.

A joint team of the Army, Navy and Air Force assisted in rescue operations along with the fire service to control the fire. Besides, members of Border Guard Bangladesh-BGB joined RAB-Police.

While working to control the fire, 12 members of the fire service and 9 shop workers fell ill and were admitted to the Dhaka Medical College (DMCH) Hospital.