The cause of the massive fire at a seven-storey factory building in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) still remains unknown, even four days after the incident.
Despite the formation of two separate five-member probe committees by the Fire Service and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza), the investigation has yet to begin.
The delay in identifying the cause of such a large fire in a well-organised area like an export processing zone has raised concerns among stakeholders.
Jasim Uddin, Deputy Director of the Fire Service in Chattogram, told TIMES of Bangladesh, “A five-member committee has been formed by the Fire Service to investigate the incident. They have been asked to submit a report within 15 working days.
“However, the investigation committee has not yet begun its work. I don’t know when it will start.”
He added, “We extinguished the fire on Saturday. The building is still in a hazardous condition.”
Sources said a five-member committee, chaired by Lt Colonel MA Azad Anwar, Director of the Training, Planning, and Development Department of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, has been formed to investigate the incident.
“I received the letter on Sunday, but I haven’t started the work yet. I will visit the site and begin the investigation within this week,” he said.
He, however, could not confirm the names of the other members of the committee.
Meanwhile, the CEPZ authorities have also formed another five-member committee, comprising experts, which is expected to submit a report within seven days. However, this committee has not yet begun its investigation.
Attempts to reach Abdus Sobhan, Executive Director of CEPZ, for comment were unsuccessful.
On Thursday, a fire broke out at the warehouses of Adams Caps & Textiles Limited and Zhihong Medical Company at around 2pm. Adams is a towel and cap manufacturing company, while Zhihong Medical manufactures surgical gowns.
The building, which is seven-storeyed, houses the warehouses of both factories on the seventh floor, where the fire originated.
After nearly 17 hours of efforts, 25 units from the Fire Service, Navy, and Air Force were able to bring the fire under control. It took the entire day to fully extinguish the flames.
Preliminary reports suggest that the building had both gas and electricity connections. Small explosions occurred during the fire, and the flames changed colour.
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the factory authorities had applied for a fire safety certificate, but the inspection and approval process had not been completed.
