Bodies of N’ganj fire victims piling up at DMC morgue due to space crisis

Bodies of victims, who were burned to death in the destructive fire at a food factory building in Naryanganj's Rupganj, have been piled up at the Dhaka Medical College (DMC) morgue due to a lack of space at the facility.

At least 49 bodies were brought to the DMC morgue for their autopsies till 3:00pm today.

Sikandar Ali, mortuary assistant at DMC, told our correspondent that at present, the DMCH morgue has the capacity to preserve only six bodies. Four refrigerators out of a total of 20 are damaged and the remaining 10 are already occupied. 

Sikandar Ali said he did not know what will be done with so many bodies brought from Narayanganj.   

Narayanganj's Additional Deputy Commissioner Shamim Bepari told The Daily Star that a total of 48 bodies were brought to the (DMC) morgue today and another body had been brought there last night.

The bodies were charred in the deadly fire and so could not be identified. That is why their DNA samples will be collected and preserved for their identification, he said.

Shamim Bepari said Tk 25,000 has been given to the family of those who died in the fire for their burial and Tk 10,000 has been given to the family of each injured victim for treatment.

Meanwhile, Law Minister Anisul Huq expressed profound shock and sorrow at the deaths of innocent people in the deadly fire at the Narayanganj food factory.

In a condolence message, he prayed for eternal peace of their departed soul and urged authorities concerned to ensure proper treatment for the injured victims.