Bailey Road blaze claims 46 lives
Staff Reporter :
A devastating fire that engulfed a restaurant building on Bailey Road in the capital city of the country has resulted in a tragic death toll of 46 individuals, according to Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen.
The incident occurred during the night following Thursday, turning a popular multi-storey structure known as Green Cosy Cottage Shopping Mall into a scene of horror.
The Additional District Magistrate AKM Hedayetul Islam of the Dhaka district administration reported on Friday morning that 39 of the deceased had been identified. With the assistance of police and fire service personnel, the district administration began the somber task of handing over the bodies to their grieving family members after 5:30 am on Friday.
Inspector General of Police, Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, initially informed reporters at Dhaka Medical College Hospital at 2:30 am that at least 44 people had lost their lives in the fire.
Among the casualties, 33 bodies were placed at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, 10 at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, and one at Dhaka’s police hospital in Razarbagh.
The victims included women and children, and around two dozen individuals with burn injuries were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment.
Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen, a pioneer in establishing burn units across the country, visited the hospitals and expressed concern over the serious condition of patients with burn injuries.
He stated that the victims had suffered burns in the respiratory system due to inhaling extremely hot air during the fire, emphasising ongoing efforts to save their lives. The government is providing free treatment to the injured.
Firefighters received the alert about the fire at Kachchi Bhai Restaurant around 9:50 pm on Thursday. Thirteen firefighting units, along with teams from the police, Rapid Action Battalion, and Border Guards of Bangladesh, swiftly joined the rescue operation. The fire was brought under control at approximately 11:50 pm.
The Green Cozy Cottage Shopping Mall housed several restaurants, clothing stores, and mobile shops. While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, rescuers reported that a significant number of gas cylinders were stored in the affected areas of the building.
The Fire Service and Civil Defence formed a five-member committee to investigate the incident, as reported in an official statement early Friday. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her displeasure over the absence of fire exits in the building and instructed relevant authorities to raise awareness among the public to prevent further loss of life in such tragedies.
