The BSEC building catches fire for the third time
A devastating fire that broke out at the office of Bangla national daily Amar Desh housed at Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) building in the capital’s Kawran Bazar area on Friday, has been doused after nearly two hours of efforts.
Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General Brigadier General Ali Ahmed Khan confirmed the Dhaka Tribune about the news around 2:30pm.
The fire broke out at the top floor of the 11-storied building around 11:48am on Friday, reported our correspondent Ashif Islam Shaon, quoting Fire Service and Civil Defense Control room In-Charge Enayet Ullah.
Fire Service and Civil Defense Control room Duty Officer Jibon Mia told the Dhaka Tribune: “The fire broke out at the office of Amar Desh. All newsmen, officials and employees of the office have hopefully rushed out of the floor immediately after the fire broke out. But, we are yet to be sure that all people have left the floor.”
“The fire fighters managed to rescue all the people from the other floors of the building. Twenty fire fighting units from the headquarters and Tejgaon Fire Service are working to douse the blaze.”
Hosenur Rahman, video editor of Rtv, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The fire originated at the office of Amar Desh while the employees were shifting their online office to Niketan.”
No reason for the fire could be ascertained immediately. No report of casulty has been filed till writing the report at 12:45pm.
Quoting the fire fighters, our correspondent Ibrahim Hossain Ovi said: “The fire fighters have managed to control the blaze in a corner of the 11th floor of the building.”
“They have entered the floor to bring the blaze totally under control. Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General,Brigadier General Ali Ahmed Khan has entered the building to monitor the situation. He will briefing the media later in the day,” he said.
The building houses several other offices, including of private satellite TV channels ntv and Rtv. The fire disrupted normal telecast of ntv and Rtv as the main power source to the building was shut down immediately after the incident.
Earlier on December 25, 2007, a fire broke out at a room on the ground floor of the building.
On February 26, 2006, three people were killed and 50 others injured as a devastating fire swept through the 11-storey building.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
