New Super Market Fire: Short circuit might have caused it

An electric short circuit might have caused the fire at Dhaka New Super Market on Saturday, say investigators.

Investigators of Fire Service and Civil Defence and Dhaka South City Corporation disclosed the findings while talking to The Daily Star yesterday.

Police, however, smell a deep conspiracy behind the recent fires in the capital. They said an investigation is going on to find who are the conspirators and what their intentions are. They added that militants might be linked to the blazes.

Marina Nazneen, executive officer at DSCC Zone-1, said, "We are suspecting short circuits behind the fire."

Two incidents of short circuits took place at Dhaka New Super Market within a month, said Marina, who is leading the nine-member probe committee of the city corporation.

The committee was formed to investigate the cause of the fire and estimate the loss, and asked to submit the report within seven working days.

The investigators of the fire service department echoed the views of the DSCC.

Wahidul Islam, director (admin and finance) of the fire service, said an electric short circuit might have caused the fire at Dhaka New Super Market.

"We primarily reached the decision after analysing the evidence and talking to the firefighters. We didn't yet get any other reasons," said Wahidul, who is leading a five-member committee formed by the fire service department.

He, however, said they would visit the scene again and scrutinise evidence before submitting the probe report.

The fire broke out at Dhaka New Super Market around 5:40am on Saturday. It took firefighters almost 27 hours to put out the blaze. At least 250 shops were gutted.

Meanwhile, Harun-or-Rashid, chief of the Detective Brach of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, yesterday said they stepped up surveillance in almost every market of the capital as they suspected that the recent fire incidents could be acts of sabotage.

The DB chief was talking to reporters after a meeting with leaders of traders at the DMP headquarters.

Harun said, "Two major fire incidents took place almost the same time. This can be an act of sabotage. That's why surveillance has been stepped up."

On April 4, a massive fire broke out at Bangabazar Shopping Complex and adjacent markets that burnt down 3,845 shops and caused an estimated loss of Tk 303 crore.

The DSCC probe body said the fire might have started from a cigarette butt or a mosquito coil repellent.

Md Asaduzzaman, chief of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of the DMP, said these incidents are happening one after another due to a lack of security at markets.

He also asked traders to stay alert to prevent possible militant attacks at markets.

Police said they found that fire at Sabura market of Tongi Bazar in Gazipur on April 12 was planned.

Just before the fire breaking out, an unidentified youth with a bag was seen on CCTV walking in front of Russell Store at the market. It was that man who set fire to the market, said investigators.

Ashraful Alam, officer-in-charge of Tongi East Police Station, said they were trying to identify the youth.

DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq told traders, "Police will always cooperate with you. You will also have your own security guards. You have to take care of your safety."

Addressing traders, Mohammad Mohsin, OC of Mirpur Model Police Station, said if they suspect someone during sale, they should inform the police about it immediately.