Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Around Dhaka’s Mirpur blaze site, families clutch photographs, hoping to find relatives missing since the deadly fire tore through a garment factory and chemical warehouse, claiming at least 16 lives.
They say they have heard nothing from their loved ones since the fire broke out and that calls to their mobile phones go unanswered.
The Fire Service reported all of the bodies were recovered from the second and third floors of the garment factory.
On Tuesday, the Fire Service first reported nine deaths at around 4pm, with the toll rising by 7pm.
At the scene, Amanullah carried a photo of his friend Sarowar, who worked at the factory.
Nasima Akter walked among the crowd holding a photograph of her nephew Robin. She said he worked as a cutting master at GM Fashions on the third floor of the burned factory. Although workers on the fifth floor managed to escape, no one from the third floor could get out.
Shakil Ahmed, cousin of Khalid Hasan Sabbir, another factory worker, said he was looking for his relative, who was the store in-charge at Arman Garments.
“His phone is still ringing, but no one answers,” he said.
Amanullah said his friend Sarowar had recently joined the factory as a helper in the washing section and had not been seen since the fire broke out.
Even seven and a half hours after the blaze began, the flames at the chemical warehouse had yet to be doused.
The Fire Service received reports of the fire around 11:45am at a chemical warehouse, operated by Shah Alam Chemicals at Shialbari, and the adjacent garment factory.
Eventually, 12 firefighting units were deployed to combat the blaze. While the garment factory fire was brought under control, the flames continued charring the chemical warehouse into the evening.
Initially, the warehouse was identified as Cosmic Pharma, though later, the board signage read “Shah Alam Chemicals”.
Locals also referred to it as “Alam Traders”. The adjacent garment factory was variably identified as “Arman Garments” or “GM Fashions”.
By 7pm, a strong chemical odour still lingered over the site. Law-enforcing officers, assisted by local volunteers, cordoned off the area.