PV desk : At least three people were killed and two others injured in a fire that broke out at Reazuddin Bazar, one of the largest wholesale markets in Chattogram city, early Friday.
Two of the deceased were identified as Md Shahed, 18, and Md Ridwan, 45, of Satkania upazila. The identity of the other victim could not be known immediately.
Two burnt women were sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Fire Service and Civil Defence control room in Chattogram’s Agrabad claimed that the fire originated at around 1:30 am and was brought under control around 5am.
Shoppers and the Fire Service sources said the blaze erupted in the early hours of Friday in one Brothers’ Telecom of eight-storey Rezwan Complex, where mobile parts and electric device shops, engulfing nearby Mohammadi Plaza.
Mozammel Haque, a leader of the Reazuddin Bazar Banik Kaylan Samity, said several employees were asleep and trapped in different shops when the fire broke out.
Three of them succumbed to smoke inhalation as they couldn’t come out in time, he said, adding that the fire, which raged for several hours, burned numerous businesses.
Abdur Razzak, Deputy Assistant Director of Chattogram Fire Service, said, “We received reports of the fire at Rezwan Complex on Bahar Lane in Amtal area at around 1:40am. Several firefighting units from Agrabad, Nandan Kanan, and Chandanpura arrived promptly.
Razzak also said, “Several people were trapped in the market, and among them, three died. Others fell ill due to the intense smoke. The narrow lanes obstructed our access, complicating the firefighting efforts.”
The bodies were send to Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, he added.
By 5 am, the Fire Service Control Room claimed that the fire was brought under control. An investigation is underway to determine the cause and extent of the damages.
/NU/
