Traders count heavy losses as Chawkbazar fire smoulders for 27 hours

Traders at Mansur Khan Plaza in Old Dhaka's Chawkbazar reported losses running into several crore taka as firefighters continued working to extinguish a blaze nearly 27 hours after it began.

"I brought in new bags only on Monday. Everything is gone," Salahuddin, who owns a ground-floor bag shop, told TBS at the market this afternoon (13 October).

Although the flames did not reach his shop, water used during firefighting ruined his merchandise.

Trader Md Khorshed said his sixth-floor warehouse contained goods worth Tk12-15 lakh, all of which were burnt. He also runs a leather goods shop on the second floor.

"I couldn't remove anything from the warehouse. All my goods have been burnt. I've lost everything," he said.

Warehouse owner Md Robin said he became trapped inside the building as black smoke spread. "I could not breathe or see anything," he said.

During a visit this afternoon, smoke was seen rising from the fifth, sixth and seventh floors of the seven-storey market. All warehouses on the sixth floor had been gutted, while several shops and warehouses on the fifth and seventh floors were also damaged.

Fire breaks out in Dhaka's Chawkbazar, 9 firefighting units working

Police closed the road towards Mitford Hospital for safety, while activities at 10-15 nearby buildings remained suspended. Traders on lower floors were removing goods, some of which had been ruined by firefighting water.

Fire Service Media Officer Md Anwarul Islam told TBS around 8pm today that six units were still working at the scene.

"There is still heat inside. We are removing burnt goods to check whether any fire remains," he said.

The blaze was brought under control at 5:20am today, but residual heat and smouldering goods prevented firefighters from declaring it fully extinguished.

Kazi Nazmuzzaman, assistant director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence's Dhaka division, said poor ventilation, intense heat, narrow access lanes and limited water sources had hindered the operation.

"The heat is preventing firefighters from working continuously," he told TBS.

The Fire Service received the alert at 5:02pm on Monday, and the first unit arrived at 5:22pm. Ten firefighting units, a special response team and a lighting unit were deployed.

Locked warehouse doors and shutters also delayed access. Four firefighters fell ill from heat and smoke and were taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

The cause of the fire and the total losses have yet to be established. The Fire Service said an investigation committee was examining both.