Death toll rises to three in Gazipur factory fire

Another body has been recovered from the debris of Meghna Group’s M&U Trims (Buttons) factory in Gazipur’s Sreepur municipality, raising the death toll to three.

The body was discovered at around 9:30am on Monday, confirmed Sreepur police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zainal Abedin Mondol.

Abdur Rahman, the production manager of the factory, said that all the deceased were painters who were painting inside the building during Sunday’s lunch break.

While other workers had left for the break, the painters stayed behind to continue working. A fire erupted in the West Chemicals warehouse on the south side and quickly spread to the wastage warehouse.

Abdur Rahman said: "While they were working, several chemical drums exploded with loud blasts, which may have caused their deaths."

Deputy Director of Gazipur Fire Service Mamun said that the victims’ identities are yet to be confirmed due to the mutilated state of their bodies caused by the intense fire.

He added: "The chemical drum explosions engulfed the entire area in smoke. Around 120 chemical drums were stored in the nearby production shed. Our firefighters and locals managed to move the drums to a safe distance. Otherwise, the fire could have turned far more devastating."

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire originated in the warehouse of West Chemicals.

Zainal Abedin Mondol mentioned that no formal complaints have been filed by the victims’ families, nor has an inquiry committee been formed yet.

"If a complaint is lodged, legal actions will be taken," he added.

The blaze was brought under control after over three hours of effort by workers from seven firefighting units, including two from Mauna Fire Service, two from Rajendrapur’s Modern Fire Service, and three from Bhogra Fire Service in Gazipur.

The fire was contained around 4:30pm on Sunday.