Fire breaks out in Sitakunda cotton depot

A fire broke out in a cotton warehouse in Chhoto Kumira area of Chattogram's Sitakunda around 10:30am this morning.

Six units of firefighters from Sitakunda and Kumira fire stations are trying to douse the flame, said Abdul Hamid Mia, deputy assistant director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defense.

"The fire broke out at a big cotton warehouse rented by a company named Unitex Spinning Mills -- a yarn manufacturing company, Huge amounts of cotton are stacked inside, so it's taking some time to put the fire out."

"This cotton warehouse is close to a private container depot called Nemsun Container Depot. We're working to prevent the fire from spreading," Abdul Hamid Mia added.

Visiting the spot, Sitakunda UNO Shahadat Hossain told reporters they primarily think the fire originated from the welding work that was going on at the warehouse. "We will form a probe committee to investigate the incident," he added.

Unitex Group Director Md Mostafizur Rahman is also present at the spot.

The cause of the fire and the extent of damage could not be ascertained immediately.

On March 4, seven people were killed in a massive explosion at the Sheema Oxygen Plant in Sitakunda.