Four people, including a woman, were killed in a fire at a chemical warehouse on the ground floor of a six-storey building named Haji Musa Mansion adjacent to the Armanitola playground in the capital.
At least 21 people have been affected by the burns and smoke.
Three of the dead have been identified as Rasel, the market watchman, his uncle Waliullah Bepari, and Sumaiya, a third-year student at Eden Women's College on the fourth floor.
It is learnt that the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department did not issue any license for chemical warehouse in the building.
While talking to the media, Deputy Director of Dhaka Division of Fire Service Debashish Bhardhan said, “These are illegal chemical stores. As far as I know, the fire service did not give them any kind of license. However, I do not know whether the City Corporation has given them a trade license or not.”
This chemical warehouse was set up completely illegally. There is a chemical warehouse on the ground floor and people live upstairs, which means living in the constant danger. Therefore, disciplinary action should be taken against those responsible for the accident, he added.
When asked about what types of chemicals were in the warehouse, he informed that they were actually hazardous chemicals. There were different types of chemicals. There were a lot of problems with the chemicals when they first came to the scene to put out the fire. Those who hoarded the chemicals there are responsible for the deaths, he further said.
Meanwhile, after receiving the news of the fire on Friday morning, Director General of Fire Service, Brigadier General Sajjad Hossain visited the spot.
According to Bangshal police sources, the burnt body of a man was recovered from the building. At least 21 people were rescued from there and admitted to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Few of the injured are being treated at the Institute's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the rest at the general ward.
Earlier on Thursday the fire service headquarters received the news of the fire at around 3:15 am. Later, 19 teams of fire service were able to put out the fire after several hours of frantic efforts. Electricity was cut off in the area for rescue work.
