UNB, Chattrogram :
The death toll from the massive fire at BM Container at Sitakunda in Chattogram following a blast Saturday night rose to 21, said fire service officials and police on Sunday.
There were three fire service members among the deceased, they said.
Identities of other deceased couldn’t be known yet, said OC (investigation) Suman Banik of Sitakunda Police Station.
After hours of hectic effort 23 firefighting units managed to bring the blaze under control around 7.30 am.
Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence Assistant Director Faruk Hossain said a large explosion rocked the area around 9:45 pm on Saturday.
“The explosion was heard within a radius of 4km from the spot,” Faruk added.
Sixteen firefighting units were dispatched immediately to fight the flames. Firefighters from Cumilla and Feni also joined them, but the presence of highly flammable chemicals in the containers complicated the situation.
President of the association of inland container depot owners Nurul Qayum Khan said there was a container of hydrogen peroxide at the depot for shipment and that might be the reason behind the big blast and the fire.
Chattogram Civil Surgeon Ilias Chowdhury has made a public appeal for blood donation at the CMCH for treatment of the injured.
Doctors from nearby government and private hospitals have been requested to report to CMCH to deal with the situation
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society volunteers are working with the hospital authorities to collect blood from donors.
 “It is not yet clear what caused the fire. But I think it started from a container. Arrangements are being made to ensure that the injured get the best treatment; we will bear all costs,” BM Container Depot Director Mujibur Rahman told UNB.
“Those who have sustained injuries will get maximum compensation. Also, we will take responsibilities for all the victims’ families,” he added.
BM Container Depot, a Dutch-Bangladesh joint venture, was set up as an inland container depot (ICD) and it is operating since May, 2011. It is one of 19 such ICDs located in Chattogram.
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The chairman of the depot is Dutch businessman Bert Pronk, who has other investments too in Bangladesh, while the managing director is Mustafizur Rahman of the Smart Group of Industries.
