Firefighters battle stubborn blaze in Keraniganj high-rise for over 11 hours
A massive fire that engulfed Jabale Noor Tower, a 12-storey commercial-residential high-rise in Babubazar, Keraniganj, remained uncontrolled even after 11 hours on Saturday, December 13, with 21 Fire Service units fighting relentlessly to contain the inferno.
Firefighters have rescued 45 trapped individuals so far, with three more pulled to safety in the late afternoon.
Shahjahan Sikder, officer-in-charge of the Fire Service media cell, briefed reporters around 4:20 pm, explaining that the building comprises multiple interconnected structures sharing a single basement. Garment shops and small jhut (textile waste) godowns occupy the lower floors, while residential quarters are above.
“Most shops are secured with shutters and collapsible gates, which we have to cut open to access and extinguish the flames,” he said. “Heavy smoke is further hampering operations.”
Three specialised breathing tenders and a hazmat tender are among the 21 units deployed to combat the dense fumes.
Earlier, at about 9:30 am, Fire Service Director (Operations and Maintenance) Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told journalists on site that the fire originated on the ground floor, rapidly filling upper levels with smoke. Surrounding buildings, a mix of residential and commercial properties, are also packed with shuttered shops.
“We are breaking locks and gates to reach the fire’s source and attacking from all sides to prevent spread,” he said, adding that jhut godowns and basement shops are complicating efforts.
On the cause, Lt Col Tajul stressed that investigations would follow only after the blaze is subdued. He dismissed rumours of chemicals, attributing explosion-like sounds to “backdraft” — a common phenomenon when trapped smoke suddenly ignites upon exposure to oxygen. “There is no need for panic,” he urged.
The Fire Service received the alert at 5:37 am and arrived within eight minutes to begin operations. Efforts continue amid concerns over the building’s narrow basement access and flammable materials stored inside.
TT/MHK/NMA