At least 24,102 fire incidents occurred across the country last year, according to statistics compiled by Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters.
A total of 98 people, including thirteen firefighters were killed and 407 others, including thirty FSCD staff, were injured in the fire incidents, it said.
The statistics covering the period between January 1 and December 31, 2022, said among the deceased (excluding firefighters), 72 were male, and thirteen female.
Among the injured, excluding employees and officers of the FSCD, 303 were male, 74 female.
The estimated damage caused by the fire incidents was over Tk 342 crore.
Overall 38.5 percent incidents occurred due to electric short circuits, which was the number 1 cause of fires, while 16.1 percent fire incidents were caused by throwing away lit cigarettes.
Gas burners, the third highest, were responsible for 14 percent of the incidents.