The massive fire that ravaged Jabal-e-Noor Tower in Babubazar, Keraniganj, was finally brought under control on Saturday, December 13, following more than 11 hours of intense firefighting efforts.
Fire Service Media Cell officer Talha Bin Jasim confirmed that 21 units succeeded in extinguishing the blaze around 5:03 pm.
Firefighters also rescued 45 people who had been trapped inside the building.
Earlier updates highlighted the challenges faced by crews.
Acting Media Officer Shahjahan Sikder explained that the multi-storey complex consists of several interconnected commercial and residential structures sharing a single basement.
Garment shops and small textile waste warehouse occupy the first and second floors, with residential quarters on the upper levels.
Access was severely restricted by only two basement entrances and locked shutters and collapsible gates on most shops, forcing teams to break them open — a process that significantly delayed operations.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Director (Operations and Maintenance) of the Fire Service, described the surrounding area as a dense mix of residential and commercial buildings with shuttered shops. The fire started on the ground floor and quickly filled higher levels with thick smoke, complicating efforts.
Crews worked from multiple sides, breaking through barriers to reach the fire’s source and prevent it from spreading to adjacent structures.
On the cause of the blaze, Lt Col Tajul said a full investigation would follow once the site is safe. He dismissed rumours of chemicals, attributing explosion-like sounds to backdrafts — sudden ignitions of trapped smoke and heat when oxygen is introduced.
The alarm was raised at 5:37 am, with the first Fire Service units arriving just eight minutes later to commence operations. No casualties have been reported.
TT/MHK/NMA