On Wednesday, over 700 firemen worked to extinguish a major fire that broke out 36 hours earlier at Dhaka’s Bangabazar, the country’s largest wholesale market.
Brigadier General Md Main Uddin, Director General (DG) of the Bangladesh Fire Brigade, told IANS that the firemen were among the 12 units forced into duty to put out the fires.
The firemen are working in warehouses on the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh levels of the Anexco Tower.
“We had declared this building vulnerable in 2019. After that I also gave them notice about 10 times, so that they do not conduct business here. Still the traders conducted their business,” he said.
He said that to put out the fire in Bangabazar there was a lack of water.
“To put out the fire, we had to bring water from Shahidullah Hall with a pump. The Air Force also assisted in dousing the fire by bringing water from Hatirjheel by helicopter. We also brought water from Buriganga. Apart from the three forces, WASA also assisted us in this work.”
The fire broke out about 6:10 a.m. on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pledged on Wednesday to offer the greatest possible assistance to traders who sustained losses as a result of the fire.
“I have already said that I will help them as much as I can and will monitor what kind of damage has been done,” she said at an event.
Hasina described the fire as a terrible tragedy, saying the agony and tears of so many traders before of Eid are too much to endure.
The Prime Minister also chastised those who stormed and trashed the fire department headquarters, saying they will be discovered and dealt with.
