A devastating fire that broke out Saturday night at Sitakunda Container Depot in Chattogram claimed over 50 lives, including nine firefighters, and left hundreds injured with severe burn injuries.
Over 25 units of the Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD), in support with the Bangladesh Army, police and local people were fighting jointly to douse the blaze for over 24 hours. But the blaze was yet to come under control as highly flammable chemical - Hydrogen Peroxide was found to be stocked there.
The incident left all the people in the area into deep shock while the people of the entire country are deeply concerned.
Locals and witnesses said immediately after the fire broke out, a number of massive explosions took place in the area which shook all the concrete buildings within four to five killometres. Massive fire balls were seen from distance soon after as the container site was in blazes.
President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Speaker in the Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Choudhury and different ministers expressed their deep shock and mourn the deaths of such huge number of people in the tragic incident.
The government authorities concerned announced compensations to the families of the deceased and injured people alongside providing treatment to those injured who have survived the catastrophe.
Authorities concerned also formed several bodies to probe the incident and find out the causes behind it.
According to officials concerned, the fire was originated at around 9pm Saturday from ‘BM Depot’, a sister concern to ‘Smart Group’, located at Sonaichhari in Sitakunda, located just on the outskirt of the Chattogram city.
Witnesses said, immediately after the fire incident, firefighters tushed to the scene and started to douse the flame. However, as a huge quantity of highly flammable Hydrogen Peroxide was stocked inside the containers, explosions took place one after another leaving several hundred people, including fighter fighters, police and labourers injured with chemical and flame burns. Many of them were burnt alive while many others sustained severe injuries.
They said the firefighters had been facing acute difficulties in douzing the fire due to the existence of highly flammable chemicals like Hydrogen Peroxide.
Immediately after the fire broke out, the burn victims were rushed to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, Chattogram Combined Military Hospital and many other private hospitals and clinics in the area. Some of them were shifted to Sheikh Hasina Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in capital Dhaka and also to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for better treatment.
Meanwhile, many of the victims died while undergoing treatment at the hospitals.
Apart from the fire fighters, police, doctors and nurses, local people in Chattogram also came forward for the aid to the victims. Many of them supplied food, medicines and blood.
Chottogram Civil Surgeon Elias Chowdhury confirmed that so far at least 50 people died in the incident that also left scores others injured with severe burn.
Compensation
The government has decided to provide Tk 2,00,000 to the families of each of the labourers killed in the blast at the BM Container Depot while Tk 50,000 will be given to each of the injured victims for the treatment purpose.
State Minister for Labor and Employment Begum Mannujan Sufian made the announcement on Sunday.
This financial assistance is being provided from Bangladesh Workers Welfare Foundation fund. The injured have been informed that further assistance will be provided for their treatment purposes.
Besides, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief on Sunday announced Tk 10 million as humanitarian assistance for the victims of the fire at Sitakunda. One thousand packets of dry and other food items have also been allotted.
Probe Bodies formed
Fire Service and Civil Defense has formed a seven-member committee to find out the cause behind the fire at BM Container Depot in Sitakunda of Chottogram.
Director (Training, Planning and Development) of fire service Lt Col Md Rezaul Karim will lead the committee, according to a notice issued on Sunday.
Meanwhile, another three-member committee was formed to probe the fire incident by the Department of Factory and Establishment Inspection.
Abdullah Al Shakib Mubarat, Deputy Inspector General of the Department of Factory and Establishment Inspection, said that the body has been formed to investigate and submit a report over the blaze within three days.
Moreover, SM Enamul Haque, Director of the divisional labor department in Chattogram, has formed another three-member committee to look into the overall situation of the workers.
Earlier, the Labour and Employment Ministry said in an official release that Taka 2 lakh will be given to the families of the workers killed in the blast, and taka 50,000 will be given to the injured for their treatment, from the funds of Bangladesh Labour Welfare Foundation.
The ministry also formed a 13-member committee to provide financial aid to the victims and injured on an emergency basis, the release added.
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said that inquiries will reveal whether the Chattogram container depot fire incident was an accident or sabotage.
“Such a major incident has occurred. It needs to be investigated into – whether it is really an accident or an act of sabotage,” Hasan Mahmud said while talking to media Sunday afternoon.
In response to a query, the information minister said, “There is no scope to investigate an accident before it occurs. Whether they (depot authorities) had all the compliances will definitely be looked into.”
“If they didn't fully comply, the authorities will be responsible. If this incident occurred even after all the compliances in place, then it will be revealed during investigation,” he said.
