Fire in Keraniganj building, 14 fire units respond

A fire broke out at a multi-storey building in Dhaka’s Keraniganj in the early hours of Saturday, December 13.

The fire erupted on the ground floor of the 12-storey Jamela Tower in Babu Bazar area around 5:37 am, which houses a jhut (garment scrap) and a readymade garment warehouse, said Anwarul Islam, media cell inspector at the Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD).

Being informed, 14 firefighting units rushed to the spot and were trying to douse the blaze, he said.

The firefighters, however, rescued a total of 42 individuals staying on different floors of the building.

Bangladesh army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members have joined the efforts to extinguish the fire and rescue people.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director FSCD (Operation and Maintenance), said the fire originated in the warehouse located on the ground floor.

“We are facing difficulties in extinguishing the fire due to heavy smoke. There is a basement on one side of the building and several jhut warehouses and other goods stored inside, which is slowing down the operation. Firefighters are breaking collapsible gates and shutters to reach the source of the fire,” Tajul Islam told reporters.

The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage could not be known immediately.

With inputs from UNB

TT/MSU