In flames: How fire raged on Dhaka-Chattogram highway for days

One of the hotspots of violence – even amid the ongoing curfew – was the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. Arson and vandalism wreaked havoc there, especially at Jatrabari, Shonir Akhra and Signboard areas.

The third day of the curfew brought a sense of calmness in the area.

Standing beside the highway and bearing the brunt of recent violence was Hazi Ibrahim Khalil Shopping Complex at Siddhirganj of Narayanganj. The eight-storey high-rise housed shops on the ground floor, the Shimrail Branch of Dutch-Bangla Bank on the first floor, a hospital on the second floor and an outpost of Highway Police on the seventh floor. 

Around 1pm on Saturday, some unidentified miscreants encircled the shopping centre and set it on fire. Witnesses alleged that the incident took place when a protester died from shots fired by the highway police from the seventh floor of the building. The deceased was an interior worker for Dutch-Bangla Bank.

Three dead bodies were seen being brought out from the building, who were burnt alive by the fire set by the miscreants. The deceased have been identified as Selim, 29; Salam, 22; and Sohel Ahmed, 21.

Rayhan Uddin Rasel, manager of Ma Hospital on the second floor, said, "The fire did extensive damage to the building, completely burning down the shops and the bank. The fire was doused before reaching the hospital on the second floor and the police outpost on the seventh floor, and no injuries were reported as people who were down below climbed to the rooftop and was rescued later."

According to Rayhan, there were shops of various items, including tires, medicine and paints, on the ground floor of the building. The fire caused losses of at least Tk1 crore to the shop owners, who could not be reached for comment. 

Apart from the shopping centre at Siddhirganj, damage was done to some other places. At least 10-12 cement-laden lorries of Bashundhara Group were seen standing beside the highway at Sanarpara area, completely burnt by fire. Each of the lorry costs around Tk50 lakh, and the total damage was around Tk5 crore. 

At Rayerbagh, a bus of Hanif Paribahan was seen upside down beside the road, completely in flames. Another burnt lorry carrying steel pipes for the government was seen beside the road at the Signboard area. At Shonir Akhra, the toll booth of Mayor Hanif Flyover was undergoing repair works. It was set on fire by picketers on Saturday. 

Our correspondent reported from Rayerbagh area that during the protests, some people had climbed the area's buildings and thrown pebbles and brickbats at the police members below. As a result, police were allegedly arresting the building owners for giving access to the protesters.