3 killed in Chattogram market fire

Three people were killed in a fire that broke out at a market in Riaz Uddin Bazar of Chattogram early today.

Two of the deceased were identified as Md Shahed, 18, and Md Ridwan, 45, of Satkania upazila. The identity of the other victim could not be known immediately.

Two persons -- a 35-year-old woman and a nine-year-old girl fell sick after inhaling smoke and were admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital's burn and plastic surgery unit, said Rafique Uddin Ahmed, head of the burn unit.

Later the woman was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) as her health condition deteriorated, the physician said.

The two injured do not have burn injuries on their bodies, he added.

The fire originated in a mobile accessories shop on the first floor of the five-storey Mohammadia Plaza around 1:35am, said Abdur Razzaq, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence in Chattogram.

On information, eight fire engines rushed to the spot and managed to douse the blaze around 5:30am, he said.

The fire service officials recovered Shahed's body from the spot, he said.

Nurul Alam, in-charge of Chattogram Medical College Hospital's Police Camp, said three injured people were taken to the hospital where Ridwan and the other died around 8:45am.