Fire at Gazi Tyre Factory still burning after 20 hours

Hundreds of workers may be trapped inside the Gazi Tyre factory

Narayanganj, Aug 26 - The fire that broke out at Gazi Tyre Manufacturing Factory in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj has raged uncontrollably for over 20 hours, with fears mounting that hundreds of workers may be trapped inside.

As of 5 pm on Monday, twelve firefighting units continued to battle the blaze at the factory, which erupted around 9 pm on Sunday. Despite their relentless efforts, the fire has yet to be brought under control.

Local residents have expressed grave concerns, claiming that between 400 to 500 people might be trapped inside the factory. Families of the missing have listed the names of at least 160 people who are unaccounted for, heightening the urgency of the rescue operations.

The fire broke out in the six-story building owned by former lawmaker Gazi Golam Dastagir. According to Lt. Col Md Rezaul Karim, Director of Training, Planning, and Improvement at the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters, the fire service received information about the fire within five minutes of it starting. However, the intensity of the blaze, fueled by flammable materials such as rubber and tyres, has made it extremely difficult to contain.

In response to the severity of the fire, five additional firefighting units were deployed, bringing the total to 12 units with 120 firefighters working tirelessly to douse the flames, said Lt. Col Karim during a media briefing on Monday morning. He added that 14 people have been rescued from the factory so far.

When asked about the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage, he said that these details will only be confirmed after a thorough investigation.

In a troubling development, local residents reported that a celebratory procession was held in the Rupsi area after news broke that former MP Gazi Golam Dastagir had been placed on a six-day remand. The procession reportedly escalated when a group stormed the factory, looting machinery and furniture. Shortly afterward, around 9 pm, miscreants allegedly set fire to the ground floor of the factory, triggering the massive blaze.-UNB