Youth dies of burns in Keraniganj factory fire, two others injured

A young man identified only as Shakil has been killed in a fire at a toy factory in Dhaka’s Keraniganj, while two others have been burnt in the incident.

The fire broke out at the factory in Narikel Bagh on Monday afternoon, said Fire Service Assistant Director Kazi Nazmuzzaman in an immediate briefing after the blaze was brought under control.

Two firefighting units from Keraniganj and three from Postgola reached the spot after the fire was reported at 12:15pm. Fire Service personnel started working to control the fire at 12:32pm.

The fire started on the eighth floor of the eight-story building and Fire Service personnel saw heavy smoke and fire when they arrived at the location.

The fire was brought under control around 2pm after about an hour and a half of firefighting effort.

Three more units were brought in as a reserve from Fire Service headquarters to help control the fire.

The official said that special measures were also taken after receiving reports that many people were trapped inside the factory at the start.

He said that paint used for colouring toys was stored inside the factory. It is initially believed that the fire may have started from the storage of that material.

One person was killed on the spot as the fire spread quickly.

The deceased Shakil was approximately 18 to 20 years old. Two others burnt in the incident have been taken to hospital.

One of the injured, 45-year-old Md Manik, has been admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment after suffering critical burns.

He is believed to have burns on 100 percent of his body.

He is in critical condition and has been admitted to the ICU, said Dr Sultan Mahmud Sikder, the resident surgeon at the institute.

When asked whether fire safety measures were lacking in the factory, Fire Service official Nazmuzzaman said: “We did not see the kind of fire safety measures that are required. I only saw fire extinguishers, but I did not see anything else.

“Apart from that, the factory did not have the necessary documentation. An investigation will be conducted into this matter.”