Another victim of Keraniganj factory fire dies

Another victim, who suffered burn injuries in the December 11 fire at a Keraniganj plastic factory, died this morning, raising the death toll to 22.

Sahezul Islam Shaju, 19, succumbed to his burns at the Intensive Care Unit of Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka around 8:15am, Dr Samanta Lal Sen, chief coordinator of the Burn Units across the country, told The Daily Star.   

Shaju had been undergoing treatment at the institute with 70 per cent burns since the fire incident occurred at the plastic factory in Chunkutia of Keringanj, he added,

Two more injured are on life support at the institute while eight are in critical condition at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, doctors said.

A devastating fire engulfed the Prime Pet and Plastic Industry factory in Keraniganj’s Chunkutia on December 11.

Firefighters recovered one charred body from the factory and rescued 33 others who were hospitalised.

Later, 21 more people succumbed to their injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and at Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute

The plastic factory at Chunkutia had been operating without permission for years. It had a single gate for entry and exit and no emergency exits whatsoever, said survivors and fire officials.

Locals alleged that the authorities concerned turned a blind eye to the lack of safety measures at the factory even though it had been producing disposable plastic cups and plates for around 10 years.

Keraniganj upazila administration sealed it off on December 13.

Relatives of the victims demanded stern action against the factory owner, Nazrul Islam, who is on the run, for failing to ensure safety and better work environment.