According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the fire broke out in two adjacent buildings. One of the buildings housed a dal storage and mill on the ground floor, staff quarters on the second floor, and a luggage fittings factory on the third floor. The other building contained a workshop on the ground floor and an office on the second floor.
Fire Service Dhaka Division Deputy Director Md. Saleh Uddin briefed reporters at the scene, describing the severe challenges faced by firefighters.
“The fire service's water tanker could not enter because of the narrow road. You already know the condition of Old Dhaka’s streets. It is extremely difficult to bring in a vehicle,” he said. “We brought a large water tanker, but it couldn’t reach the spot. Our team had to pull hoses over a long distance to fight the fire.”
He added that even residents seemed confused about the building layout. “Some say they entered through the windows, others say they broke through the doors. Our personnel took significant risks, climbing across three neighboring buildings to bring the fire under control.”
He further stated that firefighters were still working inside the affected structures and would conduct a search afterward to ensure no one was trapped.
Describing the conditions, Mr. Saleh Uddin said, “These buildings do not fall under any recognized category. Some are tin structures, some brick, some semi-brick. There were wooden staircases connecting floors, and those stairs had also caught fire.”
The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage have not yet been determined. Fire service operations are still underway.
