Gazi Tyre factory fire: Family members of missing persons block Rupganj road in protest
Highlights:
- Around 50 family members protested in front of N'ganj district commissioners office
- They said since the 25 August, their family members have been missing
- An eight-member committee has created a list of 182 missing persons
- Investigation is ongoing
- Fire service, however, have said they did not find any bodies initially
Family members of those missing after a fire in a Gazi Tyres factory in Narayanganj's Rupganj blocked the road in front of the district commissioner office today (29 December), demanding an explanation.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Around 50 family members of the missing, including women and children, held up pictures of their missing loved ones and blocked the road for an hour from 11am, leading to severe traffic congestion on the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road.
The families said since the fire on the night of 25 August, their family members have been missing.
Despite the passage of four months, they have not received any information about them. Many are struggling to survive as they have lost the sole earning member of their families.
After receiving news of the blockade, Zafar Sadiq Chowdhury, the executive officer of Sadar Upazila, arrived at the scene and convinced the protesters to clear the road.
The family members then went to the district commissioner's office to meet with the additional district magistrate to seek a proper explanation about their missing relatives.
Some have been informed that their relatives are deceased, but no bodies or remains have been provided.
Narayanganj District Commissioner Mohammad Mahmudul Haque said an eight-member investigation committee, headed by the additional district magistrate, was formed following the fire incident.
This committee has created a list of 182 missing persons.
The list has been sent to the police superintendent for verification, he added.
Narayanganj Police Superintendent Pratyush Kumar Majumdar said, "A general diary [GD] had been filed regarding the Gazi Tyres fire incident, and a report from the district administration's investigation committee had also been submitted.
"The investigation is ongoing. Some bones were found, which have been sent for DNA testing. Further details will be provided once the investigation is completed," he added.
Earlier, on 25 August, a fire broke out at Gazi Auto Tyres Factory in Narayanganj's Rupganj upazila, which was doused after 32 hours.
Anwarul Haque, director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, confirmed on 29 August that no bodies were discovered during rescue operations at the basement of the burnt Gazi Tyres factory at the time.
