Death toll in Gazipur button factory fire rises to three

The death toll in the fire at a button manufacturing factory in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur has increased to three.

Joynal Abedin Mondal, chief of Sreepur Police Station, confirmed the information on Monday.

“We were informed that a body has been recovered from the factory in the morning. A team of Sreepur police went to the scene immediately. We’ll be able to provide the details later,” he said.

One of the three dead was identified as Mazlum Mia, son of Bablu Mia from Lalmonirhat, reports bdnews24.com.

The fire broke out at the “M&U Trims” factory in Bhangnahati village in Ward No. 4 of the Sreepur Municipality around 1:30 pm on Sunday.

Seven units of the fire service brought the blaze under control after two and a half hours of effort at 4:00 pm.

Witnesses said the fire had originated in the factory’s chemical warehouse, triggering several explosions shortly after.

Panic ensued as factory workers scrambled for safety, while nearby residents evacuated their homes, carrying furniture and belongings to safety.

The explosions shook the surrounding area, causing widespread alarm.

Gazipur Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Mohammed Mamun said: “The Sreepur Fire Station was alerted at 1:40 pm, and two units began their efforts by 1:56 pm. Due to reports of chemical drum explosions, three units from Gazipur Chowrasta Modern Fire Station and two from Rajendrapur Modern Fire Station were called in.”

The chemical drums in the factory intensified the situation as they expanded from the heat and triggered multiple explosions, the official added.

Earlier, Mamun confirmed the recovery of two bodies on Sunday.

He said that both bodies were charred so police could not identify them.