A devastating fire broke out in a seven-storey building in an upscale area of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, on Thursday night, resulting in the death of at least 43 people. The fire originated in a popular biriyani restaurant on Bailey Road at around 9:50 pm local time and quickly spread to the upper floors, trapping numerous people. Fire department official Mohammad Shihab stated that firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control within two hours. They successfully rescued 75 individuals, as reported by the fire service.
The building on Bailey Road primarily houses restaurants, as well as clothing and mobile phone shops. Some used a water pipe to descend from the sixth floor, sustaining injuries in the process. Others found themselves stranded on the rooftop, desperately calling for help. According to the country’s health minister, Samanta Lal Sen, the number of casualties is expected to rise. Approximately 40 injured individuals are currently receiving treatment at the city’s main burn hospital.
Fires in apartment buildings and factories are not uncommon in Bangladesh due to lax enforcement of safety regulations. In July 2021, a fire in a food processing factory claimed the lives of 52 individuals, including many children. In February 2019, a devastating inferno ripped through multiple apartment blocks in Dhaka, resulting in the death of 70 people.
