In a tragic incident, a fire erupted in a commercial building in Dhaka, claiming the lives of at least 43 individuals and leaving dozens injured. The Health Minister of Bangladesh, Samanta Lal Sen, conveyed the grim details after the fire broke out on the night of February 29 in the Bailey Road area of Dhaka. The fire originated in a crowded restaurant situated on the first floor, trapping many within the building.
Firefighters arrived at the scene to combat the flames, rescue trapped individuals, and recover the deceased. Reports came in on the early hours of March 1, indicating that at least 43 people had succumbed to the fire, with 22 more receiving treatment for severe burns. Samanta Lal Sen stated that 33 of the victims, including women and children, were pronounced dead at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, while another 10 passed away at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
The authorities said it took two hours and the efforts of 13 firefighting units to bring the blaze under control, but the cause of the fire has yet to be determined. A survivor of the incident, Mohammad Altaf, shared a harrowing account of his escape from the fire through a window, while sadly losing two coworkers to the flames. The entire nation has been shocked by this catastrophe, and investigations are underway to ascertain its cause and prevent such disasters in the future.