Dhaka Chemical Factory Fire Claims 16 Lives, Rescue Hampered by Toxic Gas
 |
| photo courtesy: prothom alo bengali |
Sangbad Ekalavya | Published: October 15, 2025
Tragedy struck Bangladesh’s capital once again as a devastating fire engulfed a garment factory and adjacent chemical warehouse in Mirpur’s Shialbari area, killing at least 16 people. The blaze, which erupted around 11:30 AM on Tuesday, quickly spread through the four-storey “Anwar Fashion” garment unit and a nearby tin-shed chemical storage facility. Rescue operations remain ongoing, with officials warning that the death toll may rise.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire originated in the factory’s ground-floor wash unit before spreading to the chemical warehouse, triggering a powerful explosion. The flames rapidly engulfed the upper floors of the garment factory, trapping workers inside. Firefighters suspect the warehouse stored hazardous substances like bleaching powder, plastic, and hydrogen peroxide—without proper authorization.
Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Director of Operations and Maintenance at the Fire Service and Civil Defence, told reporters that the fire at the chemical warehouse remains active and highly dangerous. “We are not allowing anyone near the site. We’re using advanced technology, including drones, to contain the blaze,” he said. Toxic fumes have severely hampered rescue efforts, and the building’s locked rooftop exit may have contributed to the fatalities.
Grief-stricken families gathered near the site, many clutching photographs of missing loved ones. The recovered bodies have been sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for DNA identification. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the chemical warehouse had legal clearance to operate.
This incident has once again raised serious concerns about industrial safety standards in Dhaka, especially in densely populated zones where garment factories and chemical storage units operate side by side. The government is expected to launch an investigation into the cause of the fire and the legality of the warehouse operations.
إرسال تعليق