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5 years ago

Fire ruins factories, store in Old Dhaka

A representational image/Collected
A representational image/Collected

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Around 18 shops and structures have burnt down in a fire at Shahid Nagar in Old Dhaka.

No injuries or casualties were reported in the incident though a person fell ill after inhaling smoke. 

Among the structures affected by the fire, eight are semi-concrete, said Lalbagh Police Inspector (Investigation) Khandaker Helaluddin.

They are six bangle factories, two auto rickshaw garages, a mess and a hardware and electronics store, he said, adding that the store was a showroom of Walton.

He, however, could not confirm the extent of losses in the fire.

According to witnesses, the fire originated from a bangle factory around 10:00pm on Saturday and it spread to nearby shops and houses in a flash.

An official at the fire service’s control room said seven of their units rushed to the scene after learning of this and they were able to bring the fire under control around 11:00pm.

By that time, however, most of the damage had been caused, he said.

A deputy assistant director of the fire service, Abdul Halim said an electrical failure at the bangle factory is believed to have sparked the fire.

A probe was on to be sure of the source of the flame, he said.

As many as 71 people were killed in a devastating fire in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar on February 20, which was fuelled by flammables and chemical warehouses nearby, according to the fire service.

A similar incident broke out in Old Dhaka’s Nimtali in 2010, when a fire started from a plastic factory, leaving 125 people dead.

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