Fire at Bangabazar: Police suspect it as sabotage

Syed Shemul Parvez  :
The incident of fire at Bangabazar in the capital is not an accident. Detectives suspect it to be sabotage. They believe that the two motorcycle-riding youths whose video went viral are the ones who set fire to the cloth market.
Initially police also found the connection of political persons with this massive incident.
Detective Branch (DB) is looking for those two mysterious youths. Only if they can be arrested, the real mystery of the fire will be revealed.
When asked about this, Additional Commissioner (DB) of DMP Mohammad Haron Or Rashid told the media that the video of the two motorcycle riding youths has gone viral, we have already identified them. Operations are underway to arrest them at various places. Hopefully, we can bring them under the law soon.
“BNP and Jamaat were initially found to be somewhat involved in this fire. It initially appears to be sabotage, not just an accident. Now the whole matter will be clear only if those two youths are arrested,” the DMP additional Commissioner said.
According to intelligence sources, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) took a project of Tk 30 crore in 2018 to turn Bangabazar into a modern market. Work orders were also given after completing the tender process. Construction signs of multi-storied buildings were also posted several times. But because of the syndicate, the city corporation could not start work even in the last 5 years.
Sources also said that the syndicate controls the trade and commerce of the entire area including Gulistan, Fulbaria, Bangabazar, Anand Bazar. At one time its controller was Chowdhury Alam. After the disappearance of Chowdhury Alam in 2010,

this syndicate was headed by a local Member of Parliament. At present, the leaders and activists of various political parties including BNP, Jamaat are active under that Member of Parliament.
Meanwhile, DMP Commissioner Khandkar Golam Farooq said that the investigation into the fire incident in Bangbazar is going on. Preliminary investigation revealed that there was a dispute between the businessmen over the multi-storied building. An investigation is underway to determine whether the conflict caused the fire. The fire service is also investigating the cause of the fire. The DMP Commissioner said these things in response to questions from journalists after a debate competition organized by Chhaya Sangsad Debate for Democracy at Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) in Tejgaon on Saturday afternoon.
The attack on the Fire Service office on the day of the fire in Bangabazar was pre-planned. Untill now 11 people have been arrested in this incident. Their motives are being investigated, DMP Commissioner added.
In this regard, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Ramana Zone of Police Shahidullah told the media that we are looking for the two youths whose video went viral. He said that the Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Unit are working extensively on the matter. Even though the matter is under my department, I have to do more protocol duty. Time is running out to list the names of traders. We are working on how to give business opportunities to the traders quickly, how to rehabilitate them.
Due to these I am not able to concentrate on technical work. Those who work with technology can say better, DC Shahidullah said.
Earlier, , DMP Additional Commissioner and Head of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit Asaduzzaman told the media, “We are working seriously to find out the mystery of Bangabazar fire incident.” Looking for two young men who went viral. At the moment I am busy with an anti-terrorist operation. Therefore, I cannot say anything in detail about the incident in Bangabazar.
A fire broke out in Bangabazar at 6:10 am on April 4. All the shops of Bangabazar Market, Mahanagar Market, Adarsh Market and Gulistan Market were burnt down in the terrible fire. The fire spread to several other buildings, including the adjacent Anexco Tower. The fire was brought under control after 6 and a half hours with the efforts of more than half a hundred units of the fire service others.