Fire Service forms 7-member committee to investigate Mirpur fire

A seven-member committee has been formed today (16 October) by the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) to investigate the fire that broke out at a chemical warehouse and an adjacent garment factory in Shialbari, Mirpur.

The committee is led by Lt Col Md Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director (Operation and Maintenance) of the FSCD Directorate.

Although firefighters brought the blaze under control yesterday (15 October), thick smoke continues to rise from the site two days after the incident.

As of 2 pm today (16 October), four firefighting units remain on the scene, tackling the smouldering debris, according to Lima Khanam, a duty officer at the FSCD control room.

"The fire was brought under control around 4:20pm yesterday, roughly 28 hours after it started. However, it has not been completely doused yet — smoke is still emanating from the warehouse," Khanam said.

She added that the situation is under control, and there is no risk of the fire reigniting.

The blaze began around 11:30am on 14 October at the tin-shed chemical warehouse and quickly spread to the four-storey Anwar Fashion garment factory. Locals reported loud explosions as the fire engulfed all four floors. Workers attempted to escape, but many were trapped.

The chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic, and hydrogen peroxide. By 7:15pm yesterday, rescue teams had recovered the charred bodies of 16 victims.

Toxic fumes from the warehouse continued to affect the neighbourhood, leaving dozens of workers from nearby factories ill and prompting the temporary closure of several garment and plastic factories.

Many who returned to work today fell sick shortly after inhaling the fumes.