At least 46 people died in the devastating fire that erupted at a commercial building in the capital’s Bailey Road on Thursday night.

According to Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters they received the news of the fire at Kachchi Bhai Restaurant at 9:50pm and rushed to the spot with eight units of firefighters at 9:56pm. Later, four more units joined them.

A total of twelve fire engines brought the blaze under control at Green Cozy Cottage Shopping Mall at 11:50pm.

Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen, confirmed the number of bodies to 44, later this morning two more bodies were recovered.

However, the deceased could not be identified. 

The death toll from the blazing inferno kept climbing through the night, and is likely to rise further.

Earlier Bacchu Miah, in-charge of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital police outpost, said there are 39 confirmed dead bodies at the hospital. 

Dr Alauddin, residential surgeon of the Casualty Block at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), confirmed at least 20 deaths to media early Friday.

Several people were rushed to the DMCH from the Bailey Road fire while 20 of them were found dead, the surgeon said.

The deceased at the time included five men, 10 women, three children and two unidentified, he said. 

Earlier, 12 people were admitted with the DMCH and nine others at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, confirmed by DMCH’s police outpost in-Charge Md Bachhu Miah.

The fire that broke out in ‘Kacchi Bhai Restaurant’ in Bailey Road of the capital Dhaka on Thursday night was brought under control around two hours after it began.

Shahjadi Sultana, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters control room, said firefighters in association with members of police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) brought the flame under control around 11:50 pm, two hours after the ablaze erupted.

As of filing this update around 12:30 am, the firefighters rescued 75 people from the restaurant, she said.

Earlier, FSCD’s warehouse inspector Anwarul Islam said the blaze began in ‘Kacchi Bhai Restaurant’ at 9:50 pm.  

On information, eight firefighting units from several stations rushed to the spot and were trying to bring the flame under control, he said.

Later, four more units were added while members of the police and BGB extended their helping hands to bring the fire under control.

The origin of the fire could not be known immediately, the FSCD officer said, adding that details on this matter will be shared later.

The Fire Service Director General Brigadier General Md Main Uddin later said the building had just one shop while the rest of the outlets were all restaurants. Gas cylinders were littered throughout the building. Any one of them or a gas stove could have exploded and caused the fire. The actual reason will be known after investigation, he maintained.

BDST: 0946 HRS, MAR 01, 2024
MSK