The recurring deadly building fires in Bangladesh

In one of the worst fire tragedies in its history, Bangladesh saw at least 46 deaths in a deadly fire that originated in a seven-storey building at Bailey Road in Dhaka on Thursday night. Many of the deceased were children and women.

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It is reported that after the fire broke out around 9:45pm on Thursday in a shop on the first floor of the facility, Green Cozy Cottage, that was housing several upscale restaurants. However, the blaze was brought under control around 12:30pm.

At least 22 people, who were among 75 rescued from the building, are still in a critical state.

Other than burn injuries, many were hurt trying to escape the fire by jumping off the building.

As of Friday morning, the bodies of 39 people have been identified. Of them, at least 38 bodies 
have been handed over to families without an autopsy.

As eight deceased could not be identified, their bodies will be handed over to their families upon DNA tests.

Gas cylinders were found on almost every floor of the building – a major reason behind the inferno spreading fast. 

Many are also questioning the fire safety measures there.

Over the years, the country saw a number of such devastating fires, mostly in industrial sites and commercial spaces buildings, that claimed hundreds of lives.

Let us take a look at some of them.

September 2023 -- At least 217 shops were gutted in a fire that broke out at Dhaka's Mohammadpur Krishi Market.

April 2023 -- A deadly fire at Bangabazar, the largest clothing marketplace in Bangladesh, destroys 3,845 shops, causing a total damage of around Tk300 crore.

August 2022 -- Six charred bodies are found inside a restaurant after a blaze in an adjoining plastic factory in the Devidwarghat area of Chawkbazar, Dhaka.

June 2022 – At least 51 deaths are reported from an explosion at the BM Container Depot in Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong.

June 2021 -- A massive fire in a food processing factory of Hashem Food Ltd, a sister concern of Sajeeb Group, in Narayanganj, kills at least 52 people, including women and children.

July 2019 -- Six employees of a spinning mill in Gazipur are killed in a factory fire

March 2019 -- At least 291 tin-shed shops are completely gutted in a fire that razed through the kitchen market beside the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Market in Gulshan 1.

March 2019 -- A total of 26 people are killed and 73 others are injured in a deadly fire that quickly engulfed FR Tower, a 22-storey building in Banani, Dhaka.

February 2019 -- A huge explosion suddenly rips through the Churihatta area in Old Dhaka, killing 67 instantly. Later on, four more victims succumbed to their burns.

July 2017 -- At least 13 people have been killed and over 50 others injured in a boiler explosion in a Gazipur factory, and the survivors blame lack of safety measures for the accident.

September 2016 -- A fire at Tampaco Foils, a food and cigarette packaging factory, north of Dhaka kills at least 34 people and injures dozens.

January 2015 -- At least 13 people die in a plastics factory fire in Dhaka.

May 2013 -- At least seven people are killed when a fire swept through a garment factory in Dhaka.

January 2013 -- a fire at Smart Export Garments in the capital's Mohammadpur kills eight workers, mostly women.

November 2012 -- A fire at the Tazreen Fashions factory supplying western brands in Dhaka, kills at least 112 workers and injures more than 150.

December 2010 -- A fire at Ha-Meem Group's sportswear factory supplying global retailers kills 26 people and injures about 100 near Dhaka.

June 2010 -- A ravenous fire, which originated from a chemical warehouse in Nimtoli of Old Dhaka, left at least 124 people dead.

February 2010 -- A fire at Garib and Garib sweater factory in a Dhaka suburb kills 21 workers and injures about 50.

February 2006 -- A fire at a textile factory in the port city of Chittagong kills 65 workers and injures dozens.

April 2005 -- At least 64 people are killed and about 100 injured when a garment factory building collapsed in Dhaka.

January 2005 --  A fire at a garment factory outside Dhaka kills 22 people and injures more than 50.