Tragic Fire Claims Lives of 16 Workers in Dhaka's Garment Factory

Devastating Blaze in Dhaka

Dhaka: A tragic incident unfolded in the Bangladeshi capital on Tuesday, where a fire at a garment factory and adjacent chemical warehouse resulted in the deaths of at least 16 workers, with many others sustaining injuries, according to officials.

The fire ignited at a chemical storage facility next to the Anwar Fashion Garments Factory in the Rupnagar area, as reported by Talha Bin Jasim, an officer from the Fire Service and Civil Defence Media Wing.

Fire Service spokesman Anwarul Islam confirmed that 16 bodies were found within the garment factory during search operations.

It is believed that the fire originated from the chemical warehouse and subsequently spread to the garment factory.

While the fire at the four-story garment factory has been extinguished, efforts to control the blaze at the chemical warehouse are ongoing, Islam stated.

Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Director of Fire Service and Civil Defence, verified the death toll but noted that the identities of the victims have yet to be established.

Nine bodies were located on the first and second floors of the factory, Chowdhury informed reporters.

He indicated that the victims likely succumbed to toxic gas inhalation.

Chowdhury further mentioned that the injured individuals have been taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a chemical explosion may have triggered the fire, releasing poisonous gas that could have caused immediate fatalities.

Chowdhury emphasized that the initial explosion appeared to stem from a chemical source, leading to the release of toxic fumes, and the precise cause will be determined after a thorough investigation.

Authorities are concerned that the death toll may rise as search operations continue.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus expressed his sorrow over the loss of innocent lives in this heartbreaking incident, urging for a swift recovery of the injured and calling for an investigation into the cause of the fire while ensuring support for the victims' families.

Talha noted that the fire was reported at 11:40 AM local time, with the first firefighting team arriving at 11:56 AM.

The two affected buildings are situated next to each other, facing the Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) in Rupnagar.

A total of twelve firefighting units were dispatched to tackle the fire.

Bangladesh has a troubling history of industrial disasters, often linked to safety violations.

In 2021, a fire at a food and beverage factory claimed at least 52 lives.

In February 2019, a fire in a densely populated area of Old Dhaka resulted in 67 fatalities.

In 2012, 117 workers died in a garment factory fire due to locked exits.

The worst industrial disaster in Bangladesh's history occurred in 2013 when the Rana Plaza garment factory collapsed, killing over 1,100 individuals.

Another fire in Old Dhaka in 2010, where chemicals were stored illegally, resulted in at least 123 deaths.