The devastating fire that broke out at a factory in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) was brought under control after 17 hours of frantic efforts, the Fire Service said on Friday morning.

A total of 25 firefighting units from several stations managed to bring the blaze under control around 7:15 am, said Jasim Uddin, Deputy Assistant Director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence in Agrabad.

 The building has been declared as a fire-risk one, he said.

Jasim said two separate bodies have been formed to investigate the incident — one by the Fire Service and another by the CEPZ authorities.

The five member Fire Service panel has been asked to submit its report within 15 days, while the CEPZ committee comprising five members will submit its findings within five days, officials said.

The fire originated around 2 pm on Thursday on the eighth floor of the Adam Cap factory in Sector 1, Road No-5 of CEPZ and later spread to two lower floors, according to officials.

Md Zakir, Duty Officer of CEPZ Fire Service, said the blaze was partially under control but not yet fully extinguished.

“The extent of the damage cannot be determined yet,” he added.

CEPZ fire still raging; 23 units battling to bring blaze under control

Personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) assisted firefighters in containing the flames.

The factory produced hospital equipment and towels, and the large presence of flammable materials caused the fire to spread rapidly and burn intensely.

Meanwhile, 16 people were burnt to death in a devastating fire at a factory and a warehouse in Mirpur, Dhaka days back.