A fire broke out at the Jiban Bima Tower in the city’s commercial hub, Motijheel, on Thursday, marking the second such incident in just 17 days.
The recurring fires in the 21-story building have sparked intense panic among thousands of officials and employees of various banks and financial institutions housed there, who now fear for their safety.
Witnesses said smoke was seen billowing from a section of the building around 11:00 am. Panic-stricken employees from Agrani Bank, City Bank, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB), and several other offices scrambled to evacuate the premises, with many rushing down the stairs to save their lives.
Upon receiving the news, multiple units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the scene. However, the fire was brought under control quickly, preventing significant property damage.
Ruhul Amin Molla, a Fire Service official present at the scene, said, "Initially, it is suspected that the fire originated from an electric short circuit. The situation was brought under control shortly before we arrived. No major casualties were reported."
Previously, a similar fire occurred in the same building on the afternoon of April 13, causing a similar evacuation of the premises.
Following the latest incident, Fire Service officials warned the Jiban Bima authorities regarding the severe lack of adequate fire-fighting equipment in the building. They issued a stern reminder that the building management must remain more vigilant.
A ‘Death Trap’ in Dilkusha
Built in 1970, the ageing tower lacks modern fire safety measures, according to stakeholders and employees. Many alleged that no effective steps have been taken to upgrade the building's fire security protocols despite repeated warnings.
The building’s lift system has also been described as a "death trap." Of the four elevators designated for the 21-story structure, two are usually out of order. The remaining two frequently malfunction, experiencing violent jerks or getting stuck between floors, leaving passengers in life-threatening situations.
Employees working in the tower blamed the authorities' ‘indifference’ for the repeated accidents and called for immediate government intervention to ensure a safe working environment.