Two separate fires broke out in Gachha and Tongi areas of Gazipur city.
In one of the incidents, at least 69 workers became trapped on the rooftop of a garment factory in the Degerchala area under Gachha Police Station. Fire Service personnel later rescued them using a special ladder and brought them down safely.
Several workers fell ill due to heavy smoke and panic and were sent to hospital. Firefighters brought the factory blaze under control at around 6pm after nearly three hours of effort.
In a separate incident on the same day, a fire broke out at a garment-waste warehouse in the Gopalpur Society Field area of Tongi. Three Fire Service units rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control after about an hour.
Fire at Matrix Styles factory
At around 2:45pm on Saturday, a fire broke out at a garment factory named Matrix Styles in the Degerchala area under Gachha Police Station.
According to Fire Service and local sources, the fire suddenly started in a warehouse on the third floor of the seven-storey factory shortly after workers resumed work following their lunch break. Thick smoke quickly spread throughout the building, causing panic among the workers.
Although many workers rushed downstairs using the stairways, some on the upper floors went to the rooftop in search of safety, where 69 workers became trapped.
On receiving the information, nine Fire Service units from Bhogra, Joydebpur and nearby stations rushed to the scene and began both firefighting and rescue operations. Firefighters used a turntable ladder to bring the 69 workers stranded on the rooftop down safely one by one.
During the rescue operation, several workers fell ill due to panic and smoke inhalation, while some lost consciousness. They were quickly sent to hospital for treatment.
After nearly three hours of effort, firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control at around 6:00pm.
Fire Service Deputy Director Saleh Uddin said firefighters faced some difficulties because of a shortage of water. However, after the fire was completely extinguished, a search of the building found no casualties, and no relatives or workers reported anyone missing.
The exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage will be known after an investigation, he said.
Fire at garment-waste warehouse in Tongi
Meanwhile, at around 4:45pm on the same day, a fire broke out at a garment-waste warehouse owned by Shahin beside Windy Garments in the Gopalpur Society Field area under Tongi East Police Station in Gazipur.
Three units of Tongi Fire Service immediately rushed to the scene and brought the fire completely under control after about an hour.
No casualties were reported in the incident.
Tongi Fire Service Senior Station Officer Md Shahin Alam said the initial cause of the fire and the extent of the damage could not immediately be confirmed. The details would be known after an investigation.
