Woman Dies, 30 Injured in Bagerhat Building Fire

A tragic fire at a five-storey commercial building in Chitalmari upazila of Bagerhat claimed the life of one woman and left 30 others injured on Monday.

The deceased, initially unidentified, was later confirmed to be Anita Biswas, a middle-aged clinic staff member from Kuraltola village in Chitalmari. Her body was recovered by police and fire service personnel from a clinic located in the building.

Md. Shahadat Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Chitalmari Police Station, reported that the fire began on the ground floor in the early hours of the morning and quickly spread, triggering widespread panic among those inside.

Witnesses stated that the flames were first seen around 8:30 am at Maisha Plaza, situated along Chitalmari’s main road. The building, which houses several key establishments such as Sonali Bank, Agrani Bank, Bank Asia, insurance companies, a clinic, a beauty salon, and various shops and showrooms, was engulfed by fire rapidly.

Emergency responders managed to rescue between 25 to 30 people, most of whom were affected by heavy smoke inhalation and unconsciousness. They were promptly transported to Chitalmari Upazila Health Complex and nearby hospitals for treatment.

Md. Shahabuddin, Senior Station Officer at the Bagerhat Fire Brigade and Civil Defence, confirmed that the fire was finally contained by 12 pm, following the efforts of eight firefighting units from Bagerhat, Khulna, Chitalmari, Mollahat, and Tungipara.

"We carried out a thorough search of the building afterward, but the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined," he said.

Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Kamrul Hasan, who visited the scene, reported that 21 individuals who had lost consciousness were admitted to the Upazila Health Complex. Fortunately, despite the widespread damage to other areas, the second floor, which houses several bank branches, escaped significant harm.

The local authorities are continuing their investigation into the fire's origins.