Fire, explosion at Ctg depot: Death toll now 49
The death toll in the fire and subsequent explosions at BM Container Depot in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram has gone up to 49 while hundreds of people, including police and fire service personnel sustained burn injuries in the incident.
Dr Ilias Hossain Chowdhury, civil surgeon of Chattogram, confirmed the development of the incident, reports our local staff correspondent.
Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Ashraf Uddin said that more than 200 injured and burnt people are undergoing treatment in different hospitals.
The divisional commissioner further said that the relatives of the deceased are being given Tk 50,000 by the DC office. Meanwhile Tk 20,000 is being given to the families of the injured.
So far 14 deceased have been identified. They are: Niton Chakma, Sitakunda fire service leader; firefighter Rana Mia (22); firefighter Shakil (22), firefighter Alauddin (35); firefighter Moniruzzaman (32); Ibrahim Hossain (27), son of Abul Hossain; Md Sumon (28), son of Nizam Uddin; Tofayel Ahmed (22), son of Harun Ali; Afzal Hossain (20), son of Solaiman Hossain; Mominul Haque (24); Noyon (20); Habibur Rahman (26); Mohiuddin (26); and Rabiul Alam (19).
The fire broke out at BM Container Limited in Shitalpur area around 10pm last night (June 4), said a duty officer of Chittagong Fire Service and Civil Defence control room at Agrabad.
On information, 25 firefighting units rushed to the spot and were trying to douse the blaze, the officer told The Daily Star.
In a statement, Mujibur Rahman, director of the BM Container Depot, said it was not clear what caused the fire. "But I think the fire started from the container."