Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Since Tuesday, Amanullah has been searching the burnt building in Mirpur’s Rupnagar holding a photo of his friend Sarwar in his hand.
Sarwar worked as a helper in the garment factory housed in the building that caught fire.
On Wednesday, Amanullah said Sarwar’s body had been found at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue.
His entire body, including his face, had been burnt beyond recognition. He was identified only by an extra finger attached to his left thumb.
Around 11:45am on Tuesday, the Fire Service received a report of a fire at a tin-shed chemical warehouse called Cosmic Pharma in the Shialbari area, as well as at the adjacent garment factory.
Twelve units of firefighters were deployed in stages to control the blaze.
By that night, the Fire Service reported recovering 16 burnt bodies, all found on the second and third floors of the garment factory.
Officials from the Fire Service and police said the faces of all the victims were disfigured beyond recognition. The bodies would only be handed over to families after DNA samples were collected.
On Wednesday afternoon, Brig Gen Md Asaduzzaman, director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, told reporters: “The faces of all the bodies are disfigured. However, relatives have claimed that 10 of them could be identified by their clothing and other signs.”
“To avoid complications in the future,” he added, “DNA samples from all the bodies will be collected now. Subject to permission from the police and district administration, these 10 bodies may be temporarily handed over to their relatives.”
One of those identified was Sarwar.
His friend Amanullah said, “There is another twin finger on his left thumb. Nothing is visible on his body, nor is the shape of his face. His brother identified Sarwar by looking at that finger.”
Rupnagar Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Mokhlesur Rahman said that relatives have been approaching police to identify the bodies. However, the handover process will begin only after DNA samples are collected from both the bodies and their relatives.
FIRE STILL NOT EXTINGUISHED
Fire Service Director General Brig Gen Muhammad Zahed Kamal said on Tuesday night that it “may take several days” to fully extinguish the fire that broke out in the chemical warehouse.
By Wednesday afternoon, the Fire Service reported that the blaze had yet to be put out.
Toxic smoke continued to billow from the site, and firefighters were working with oxygen tanks and gas masks to contain the situation.
A team from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), led by Prof Yasir Arafat, visited the site that afternoon.
The Fire Service said further action would be determined in consultation with the BUET team.