Fire rips through Karwan Bazar slum, two killed

FE REPORT

A tragic incident unfolded in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar as a fierce fire engulfed a slum, resulting in the recovery of dead bodies of a woman and her son.

The blaze which erupted in the Mollabari slum adjacent to the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) premises in the early hours of Saturday left around 300 shanties in ruins, as reported by the Fire Service.

Sharmin Akter Karima (23) and her son Nafis (2) died inside the fire-hit slum.

The firefighting efforts, involving thirteen units, successfully tamed the flames by nearly 4:15 am, according to Anwarul Islam, an official from the Fire Service.

The fire originated at around 2:23 am on the day, said official at the fire department.

The urgency to extinguish the fire promptly was shown by Saleh Uddin, deputy director of the Fire Service Dhaka Division, given that the slum structures were predominantly constructed from flammable materials such as tin, wood, and bamboo.

The immediate concern was halting the blaze to prevent further devastation, stated Uddin.

The true extent of the damage inflicted by the fire remained undetermined at this point, with the authorities working to assess the aftermath of the tragic incident.

Additionally, the FE correspondent conducted an on-site visit and interviewed some victims residing in the slum.

Al Amin, a 35-year-old resident of the slum, lived with his wife and two other family members. He worked as a day laborer.

According to him, the fire broke out around 2:00am on that day, causing extensive damage.

Hailing from Mymensingh district, Al Amin mentioned that the blaze consumed all of his possessions, including furniture, utensils, a refrigerator, and a TV. He couldn't pinpoint the exact cause or time of the fire.

Tanjina Akter, a 25-year-old who had been living in the slum with her husband for two years, shared her distressing experience.

Her husband worked as a day labourer, and she revealed that the fire had engulfed all their belongings, including furniture. Hailing from Brahmanbaria district, Akter estimated her losses to be between Tk30,000 and Tk 40,000 in assets due to the fire.

Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence Media Cell, told the FE that a five-member investigation committee has been formed to probe the fire incident in the Mollabari slum.

The committee is expected to submit its report within the next 15 working days, he stated.

The committee members include Lt. Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director (operation and maintenance) of the fire department, serving as the chairman; Saleh Uddin, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Division, appointed as the member secretary; Anwarul Haque, Assistant Director in Dhaka, as a member; Tanharul Islam, assistant director in Zone-1, as a member, and Nazim Uddin, senior station officer at Tejgaon Fire Station, as a member.

The authorities are currently investigating the tragic incident, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman stated during a press briefing at the scene.

He also said efforts are underway to determine whether the fire was a deliberate act of sabotage or an unfortunate accident.

Commissioner Rahman emphasised the need for a thorough investigation before reaching any conclusion about the cause of the fire.

DMP chief Rahman mentioned that it is premature to attribute the incident to negligence or an electrical short-circuits at this stage.

The ongoing investigation, conducted by both the fire service and the police, are expected to provide clarity on the actual circumstances leading to the fire.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam visited the scene at around 3:05 pm on the day.

Mayor Atiqul also announced financial assistance of Tk5,000 for each affected family.

He pledges special assistance of Tk10,000 for those who are differently abled people.

While talking to the media, Atiqul shares, "This is a privately-owned slum. I have seen almost every house severely affected by the fire. To mitigate their suffering in this intense cold, adequate blankets will be supplied."

He added, "The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has already arranged dry food and blankets. The DNCC will provide financial aid to all those affected."

At that time, Mayor Atiqul also talked to the affected slum residents and assured them of further support.

He also mentioned, "Efforts are underway to quickly prepare a list of the affected people for immediate assistance by local councillors and regional administrators".

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