Five dead in Keraniganj factory blaze

Five bodies have been recovered from a gas lighter factory gutted by fire in Kadamtali, Keraniganj, on the outskirts of Dhaka.

The victims were found after firefighters brought the blaze under control on Saturday afternoon, according to Anwarul Islam, media officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise further.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expresses deep shock over Keraniganj fire incident, and orders to ensure exemplary punishment for those found guilty through investigation.

He said, “This is a very painful incident. The loss of this life is irreparable.”
He said this in a post on the social media platform Facebook from his verified ID.

The Prime Minister also said, “I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members of the victims and pray for the eternal peace of the deceased souls.

In addition, I have ordered an immediate investigation to uncover the cause of the accident and ensure exemplary punishment for the culprits.”

Two workers injured in the fire are currently receiving treatment. Md Jisan, 18, has been admitted to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital with 22 per cent burns, while Md Asif, 14, is being treated at the National Burn Institute with 15 per cent burns, doctors said.

The fire broke out at around 1pm at a factory on Dipjol Goli Road in Aganagar Union, South Keraniganj. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after approximately one and a half hours, around 2:30pm, and fully extinguished it by 4:45pm.

According to the Fire Service, three units arrived at the scene within five minutes of receiving the alert, with four more units joining later.

The combined efforts of the personnel eventually controlled the fire after prolonged operations.

Officials are investigating the cause of the blaze, while local authorities have expressed concern over safety standards at small-scale factories in the area.