2 killed in Gazipur Factory Fire

Firefighters recovered two bodies from a button factory at Bhangnahati in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur district after it caught fire this afternoon (22 December).

"The bodies of two individuals have been recovered so far. Both bodies were severely burned, making identification difficult. The entire factory is being searched for further casualties," Mamunur Rashid, a deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) told The Business Standard.

"It is suspected that the initial explosion caused the deaths," he added.

Mamunur Rashid said the fire started at the factory around 1:30pm at M&U Trims Limited and spread soon. Seven firefighting units brought the fire under control around 3:30pm.

"There were a lot of chemical drums there. The drums were swelling in the heat of the fire. A number of explosions took place. The fire caused significant damage to the factory's materials."

According to locals, smoke billowing from the factory covered the whole area, creating panic among people. Scared residents evacuated their homes, moving their belongings to safety.

The FSCD official further said they had initially received reports of two or three injured individuals before arriving at the scene. After bringing the fire under control, they found the first body during the dumping process.

"The first body appeared to be male. Later, around 8pm, the second body was discovered. The identities of the deceased have not been confirmed yet."

"The dumping process is ongoing," he added, noting that completing the process would take more time.