Valuables worth over Tk 50 lakh gutted in Motijheel bldg fire

Valuables worth over Tk 50 lakh were gutted in a fire at a commercial building at Motijheel in the city yesterday.
The fire also left five people, including two firefighters, injured.
The injured firemen were identified as Afzal Hossain and Nurul Islam but the identities of the three injured shop employees could not be known immediately.
Eight warehouses of as many local stationary shops, housed on the third floor of the five-storied building, were completely gutted in the fire.
Electronics goods kept at a warehouse at an adjacent building were also gutted partially.
The central stationary department of Janata Bank, housed on the ground and first floors of the building, were safe.
Locals informed fire brigade officials soon after they found smoke emitting from the third floor of the building at around 9:00am.
Fire brigade officials said 13 firefighting units rushed to the spot on receiving the information.
However, they said it took more time to douse the fire as all doors and windows of the building were closed since it was a weekly holiday yesterday.
Following the incident, members of law enforcing agencies, including army personnel also rushed in and cordoned off the building.
The fire in the commercial hub spread panic among the businessmen in the nearby buildings.
Fire brigade officials also said that the fire spread rapidly as the godowns contained flammable chemicals.
Fire brigade officials could not identify the reason behind the fire.