United News of Bangladesh

A rescue team from the Fire Service and Civil Defence has been deployed to Myanmar to assist in search and rescue operations following a devastating earthquake. The 10-member rescue team departed from Dhaka at 11:35am on Tuesday aboard a special flight as part of a joint humanitarian assistance mission coordinated by the Bangladesh Armed Forces Division. Bangladesh's 55-member rescue, medical team arrives in quake-hit Myanmar Led by Deputy Director of Dhaka Division, Md Saleh Uddin, the team comprises three officers and seven firefighters, according to a press release. Notably, the Fire Service and Civil Defence had previously sent a rescue team to Turkey in 2023 to aid in post-earthquake recovery efforts.

At least four people were killed and two others injured after a fire broke out in a hotel building at Shahjadpur Bus Stand, Dhaka, on Monday. The fire originated on the first floor of the five-storey building, which houses Saudia Residential Hotel on the second to fifth floors. The Golden Tulip Beauty Parlour is located on the first floor, where the fire is believed to have started. According to Talha bin Jasim, station officer at the Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters, the bodies of four victims were recovered from different areas of the building. One was found inside a hotel bathroom, while three others were discovered on a locked staircase leading to the rooftop, suggesting they may have suffocated while attempting to escape. Firefighters received the first distress call at 12:17 pm, and two units were dispatched immediately. The blaze was brought under control by 1:03 pm and fully extinguished by 1:40 pm, said Rashed Bin Khalid, duty officer at the fire control room. Speaking at the scene, Assistant Director of Fire Service Kazi Nozmozzaman stated that the exact cause of the fire is still unknown, but initial suspicions suggest it started inside the beauty parlour. He reiterated that the locked staircase door may have played a role in the victims' deaths. Rafiqul Islam, owner of Ruma Digital Studio on the ground floor, said he was outside when the fire broke out. Upon returning, he found the blaze had started in the beauty parlour. Later, he went upstairs and discovered an elderly man’s body in a hotel bathroom, likely a victim of suffocation. The deceased were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for postmortem examination. One of the victims was identified as Miron Jamadar, 55, from Bhandaria, Pirojpur. His brother-in-law, Hiron Talukdar, confirmed that Miron had checked into the hotel with his son, Munim, 23, earlier that morning. Munim was not present at the time of the fire, as he had been staying elsewhere. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.

Bangladesh saw 140 deaths in 26,659 fire incidents reported across the country in 2024, according to Fire Service and Civil Defence on TuesdaySome 341 people were injured in fires caused by electric faults, burning cigarette butts, stove-related issues, and gas accidents, said FSCD Station Officer Talha bin Zasim on Tuesday.Valuables worth Tk 446. 27 crore were also gutted, he said. 11 houses gutted in Natore Fire However, the Fire Service managed to save property worth over Tk 1974 crore through their prompt response. Besides, two fire service personnel died and 37 were injured while performing duties. Furthermore, the unruly action of public led to the vandalism of 34 fire service vehicles and torching of eight others.Of the total fire incidents, 33.98% caused by electrical faults, 15.52% caused by burning pieces of bidi or cigarettes, 11.46% from stoves, 2.95% from crowds, and 2.84% due to children playing with fire. Other causes included gas leaks, cylinder explosions, and fireworks-related incidents.Residential buildings were the hardest hit, accounting for 26.74% of the fires. Other notable incidents occurred in haystacks (16.92%), kitchens (9.04%), and various industries, including garment factories and shopping malls. A total of 268 fires occurred in vehicles, excluding buses, and there were also fire incidents on trains and launches. Fire in Mirpur Bata: No casualties reportedThe highest number of fire incidents occurred in the months of February, March, April, and May, with an average of 102 fires reported daily during these months.Beyond fire incidents, the Fire Service and Civil Defence conducted extensive rescue operations, saving 750 lives and rescuing 303 animals through diving operations. In total, the Fire Service handled 9,128 accident rescues, including 6,408 road accidents. Hazaribagh leather warehouse fire extinguished, fire safety negligence highlightedTo curb future fire disasters, the Fire Service and Civil Defence launched 147 mobile courts in 2024, fining institutions a total of Tk 2.58 crore. Besides, they carried out 18,983 fire safety drills and provided training to over 1.47 lakh people across the country.

A fire that broke out on the "MV Bangali" launch in Dhaka’s Shyambar Launch Terminal was brought under control on Tuesday. Five firefighting units brought the fire under control at 1:45 pm on Tuesday, said Talha Bin Zasim Station Officer of FSCD headquarters media cell. Earlier, the fire broke out at 12:55 pm. No passengers were on the launch at the time of the fire, added the fire official.

The fire which broke out at Godown slum in Dhaka’s Banani area has been brought under control. The fire started at the slum around 4:05 pm on Sunday and engulfed it, said Talha bin Jasim, station officer of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD). TK Group’s super board manufacturing factory catches fire in Munshiganj On information, six firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control around 5:33 pm. A team of Bangladesh Army also joined with the fire service teams, said a press release of ISPR. Fire in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar; chemical warehouse burnt down However, the origin of the fire and extent of damages could not be ascertained yet.

A fire broke out in a super board manufacturing factory of TK Group in Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj on Sunday (March 24, 2024) afternoon. Talhan Bin Zasim, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD-media cell) headquarters, said the fire began in the board factory in Jamaldi area around 1: 10 pm. Read more: Fire at 18-storey building in Dhaka’s Gulshan doused On information, ten firefighting units rushed to the spot and were trying to tame the flame, he said. The origin of the fire could not be known immediately, he added. Read more: Fire in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar; chemical warehouse burnt down

In Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, the history of fire incidents stretches back decades, with each tragedy laying bare the systemic failures of monitoring and enforcement by the authorities. The recurrence of these incidents, resulting in loss of lives and property, highlights a persistent cycle of negligence and a lack of proper supervision by the concerned agencies, including the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) and the Fire Service and Civil Defence. This pattern was tragically underscored by the recent blaze at a building housing several restaurants on Bailey Road, which claimed 46 lives, marking yet another dark chapter in Dhaka’s ongoing saga of preventable disasters. The Bailey Road catastrophe is not an isolated incident but a continuation of Dhaka’s grim legacy of fire tragedies. Experts point to a systemic lack of accountability and supervision, with buildings across the capital flouting fire safety norms and regulations. Read more: Firefighters faced difficulties dousing fire at Krishi Market due to overcrowding: Fire Service Director The construction of these structures often violates directives from the Fire Service and Civil Defence, lacking essential fire prevention measures such as alarms, adequate water supplies, and fire extinguishing systems. The result is a cityscape riddled with potential fire traps, posing a constant threat to its inhabitants. Professor Dr. Adil Muhammad Khan, President of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), asserted that the frequent fires could be significantly reduced if the authorities took decisive action against those responsible for the lax approval and supervision of building constructions, and against building owners who neglect fire safety standards. Dr. Khan emphasised that accountability must extend to RAJUK, the building owners, and even the tenants who, fully aware of the risks, continue to occupy these unsafe spaces. Bailey Road Fire: 4 inc. Kacchi Bhai’s manager remanded for two days The recurrence of fire incidents is further compounded by the failure to follow up on investigations after each tragedy. Dhaka has borne witness to several catastrophic fires, including those at Nimtoli, Churihatta, FR Tower, Armanitola, New Market, Moghbazar, and the latest disaster at Bailey Road. These incidents share common threads: mismanagement, the utilisation of risky multi-storied buildings, and a glaring lack of proper supervision, with many buildings operating without the requisite approvals from RAJUK and other regulatory bodies. Despite repeated pledges from various quarters to transform Dhaka into a risk-free city, these promises have largely gone unfulfilled. Each tragic fire fades from public memory, only to be replaced by the next, in a seemingly endless cycle of devastation. This cycle is exacerbated by the mixed use of residential and commercial buildings, which Dr. Khan identified as a critical risk factor propelling the capital towards further disaster. An example of this perilous overlap is the Green Cozy Cottage Building on Bailey Road. Despite approvals specifying that only the ground through fourth floors could be used commercially, with the fifth and sixth floors designated for residential purposes, the building predominantly housed restaurants, a clear breach of urban planning and building laws. Dr. Khan advocated for treating such egregious violations, like the Bailey Road fire, as criminal acts, attributing them to the negligence of RAJUK and other service agencies. Read more: Why Fire Safety Audit is Essential for Commercial Buildings The aftermath of the Bailey Road tragedy has seen calls for comprehensive measures, including the online registration of buildings with detailed usage information, and the public display of notices issued by the government against non-compliant building owners. Ashraful Islam, the project director of the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) of RAJUK, clarified that the Bailey Road building was authorized only for office use, not for restaurants and showrooms, underscoring the illegal operations that contributed to the tragedy.

A fire broke out in Jhilpar slum of Mirpur-12  in Dhaka on Monday (February 19, 2024) afternoon. Lima Khanam, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters media cell, said the fire started from one of the shanties of the slum around 12:57 pm. Fire damages foam factory on Char Patharghata  On information, four fighting units rushed to the spot and were trying to bring the flame under control and then four more units joined them. The origin of the blaze is yet to be known, the duty officer said, adding that there is no report of casualties till 1:30 pm. Read more: 50 shanties gutted in Begunbari slum fire

At least five arson attacks were recorded in 24 hours till 6 am today, ahead of the 24-hour blockade called by BNP. Netherlands Ambassador inaugurates demonstration on farming initiative Of these, one vehicle torched in Dhaka city, two in Gazipur, one in Bagerhat and one in Sirajganj district, said Shahjahan Shikdar, deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defence Media Cell. 3 Bangladeshi workers dead as warehouse collapses in Malaysia Eight firefighting units and 42 members of the fire service were engaged in dousing the flames. So far, 228 vehicles have been set on fire during the blockades and hartal from October 28 to November 29, according to fire service headquarters. Bangladesh among 5 countries selected for project to strengthen preparedness to COVID-19, other infectious diseases

A fire broke out in the basement of Biddyut Bhaban in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon. RMG workers block Dhaka's Mirpur-10 intersection Two fire service units were working to douse the fire at the time of filing this report. The fire broke out around 3:42 pm. WHO SEARO Director election: Momen thanks India, other countries for supporting Saima Wazed The reason behind the fire is yet to be known, said, Ershad Hossain, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence. World Bank approves $210 million for early childhood development