A devastating fire broke out at a factory at Tongi in Gazipur Saturday morning killing at least 24 people and injuring dozens.
Among the victims, two were females and another was a 12-year-old boy.
Nineteen bodies including a female were kept at Tongi 50-Bed Hospital, said Md Ali Haider Khan, superintendent of the hospital.
All of the victims were brought dead, he said.
At least 32 injured were referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and 10 others were now undergoing treatment at Tongi hospital, the superintendent added.
Among the bodies, several received burns along with other injuries. One of the bodies was found charred, our correspondent reported.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Medical College Hospital police outpost in charge sub-inspector Bachchu Miah confirmed deaths of more five people including a female and a 12-year-old boy.
Two of the victims were brought dead while three others declared dead at the hospital, the police sub-inspector added.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the deaths of people.
In a condolence message, the prime minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members. She also wished early recovery of the injured people. The prime minister asked the authorities concerned for providing better treatment to the injured people, reports United News of Bangladesh.
The inspector general of police, AKM Shahidul Hoque, visited the spot this afternoon and said the owners of Tampaco Foils Factory were negligent in ensuring safety at the factory. He said the owners would face legal action including filing case against them.
Gazipur fire service deputy assistant director Akhtaruzzaman said a boiler explosion at the factory around 6:00am caused the fire.
Two probe committees were formed to investigate the incident.
One was formed by fire service and civil defence while Gazipur deputy commissioner SM Alam formed another five-member probe committee led by additional district magistrate Rahenul Islam. The committee was asked to submit its report within 15 working days.
The deputy commissioner, however, announced to provide Tk 20,000 for each family of the deceased while Tk 10,000 to each injured.
A total of 23 units were still working on the spot in Tongi BSCIC area to douse the flame, fire service sources said. Smokes were billowing out from the burning buildings.
Gazipur police super Harun-ur Rashid told New Age that the casualty could be more.
The packaging factory has three adjacent buildings, and parts of a four-storey building and a three-storey building collapsed due to the fire. Another newly-built four-storey building stood firm.
Locals said the partly collapsed four-storey building contained flammable chemicals that caused the fire burning for long time.
A witness said the factory was running its night shift that usually starts at 10:00pm and ends at 6:00am.
The fire erupted when the night shift was about to end, he said, adding that around 250 workers were present then.
The explosion collapsed a boundary wall of another office situated near the factory’s main entrance.
Menawhile, bodies of 19 diseased people were sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital from Tongi 50-bed Hospital this afternoon.
Ad Ali Haidar Khan superintendent of the hospital Tongi 50-bed Hospital said the bodies were sent at DMCH to recover identities of the bodies after DNA tests.
Sub-inspector Bachu Mia of DMCH police out-post in-charge confirmed that the bodies were shifted to DMCH morgue.
Bangladesh small and cottage industries corporation has formed a three-member probe body headed by its regional director M Shafiqul Alam to investigate the boiler explosion.
The committee has been asked to submit its report by seven days after investigating the reasons behind the explosion and determining responsibility for the blast, alongside recommendations for penalties and prevention,
Two other committee members are DGM AM Bazlur Rashid and Tongi industrial estate official M Rafiqul Islam, an official at the BSCIC said.
Source: new age
